UW News

June 2, 2008

133rd Commencement at UW’s Seattle campus–2 p.m. June 14 at Husky Stadium

News and Information

Mark A. Emmert, University of Washington president, will officiate at Commencement ceremonies in Seattle, as well as Commencement ceremonies at UW Tacoma June 13 and UW Bothell June 15.

The June 14 ceremonies at Husky Stadium start at 2 p.m. Graduates begin to line up at noon. The academic procession begins at 1:30. The ceremony takes 2½ hours and could be shortened in the event of inclement weather.

The ceremony will be telecast live on UWTV from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on channel 27 throughout the Puget Sound region and also online; for more information, see www.uwtv.org.

About 4,100 graduates are expected to attend, with an audience of about 39,000 family members and guests. Degrees are awarded to those who have completed academic requirements some time during the 2007-2008 academic year. An estimated 10,840 degrees will be awarded in Seattle — about 7,000 bachelor’s degrees, 2,695 master’s degrees, 660 doctorates and 485 professional degrees.

The Commencement speaker is musician, composer, producer and arranger Quincy Jones. He will be awarded an honorary doctorate at the ceremony.

Other recipients of special honors to be acknowledged at the Seattle commencement include: the Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus, Distinguished Teaching Awards and the President’s Medals — presented to two graduating seniors with the most distinguished academic record.

Members of the Board of Regents, deans and other representatives of the University’s 17 colleges and schools will participate in the Seattle ceremony. University officials also will be present at the Tacoma and Bothell ceremonies.

Many of the colleges and schools also have separate graduation programs and investiture ceremonies. Complete information is available at www.uwgraduation.com.

UW Tacoma’s ceremonies are at 10 a.m. Friday, June 13 at the Tacoma Dome. Commencement speaker is Michael J. Phillips, chairman of Russell Investment Group. Patricia Spakes, chancellor of UW Tacoma, will present baccalaureate degrees; Suzanne Ortega, dean of the Graduate School, will present graduate degrees. The ceremony also will spotlight the recipient of the Chancellor’s Medal for academic achievement. Richard K. Knuth, professor of education, will be recognized as the recipient of the UW Tacoma’s Distinguished Teaching Award, and E. Joseph Sharkey, associate professor of interdisciplinary arts and sciences, will be honored with the Distinguished Research Award. UW Tacoma will award an estimated 830 bachelor’s degrees and 155 master’s degrees.

UW Bothell will hold ceremonies at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 15 in the Bank of America Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on the UW campus in Seattle. Chancellor Kenyon Chan, UW President Emmert, and a student speaker will present remarks and reflections. A Chancellor’s Medal and a President’s Medal will be awarded to outstanding students in the Class of 2008. The Commencement speaker is Greg Mortensen, internationally renowned humanitarian, author and mountaineer. He will be awarded an honorary doctorate at the ceremony.

The Distinguished Teaching Award will be given to S. Gowri Shankar, professor of business administration. UW Bothell will award an estimated 719 bachelor’s and master’s degrees and recognize students receiving their Washington State teaching certificates.