Commencement Fri. & Sat.
June 4, 2007CONTACT:
Kathy Miller, 661/654-2456, kmiller26@csub.edu or
Michele Newel, 661/654-2720, mnewell1@csub.edu
California State University, Bakersfield will celebrate its 37th commencement Friday and Saturday, June 8 and 9, with nearly 1,400 members of the class of 2007 being recognized at four ceremonies.
The prospective graduates will don their caps and gowns to participate in the ceremony, which culminates their education. Of the 1,386 people eligible to participate in the spring ceremonies, 774 are from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, 230 from the School of Business and Public Administration, 221 from the School of Education, and 160 from the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. One person is graduating with a master's in interdisciplinary studies.
CSUB had its largest number of graduates in the university's history during this academic year. During winter commencement in December 2006, 637 students received their diplomas, bringing the total for the 2006-07 academic year to 2,023. Last year, CSUB graduated 1,457 students.
The number of students actually awarded degrees is usually somewhat less than the number eligible to participate in the commencement ceremonies. Officials expect that of those eligible to participate in commencement ceremonies this spring, about 1,000 will receive degrees when record verification is complete sometime in August.
The commencement ceremonies are as follows:
- The School of Education holds the first of the commencement ceremonies on Friday, June 8, at 10 a.m. in the Icardo Center.
- The School of Business and Public Administration's ceremony will be Friday at 2 p.m. in the Icardo Center.
- The School of Humanities and Social Sciences' ceremony begins Saturday, June 9, at 7:15 a.m. in the Amphitheater.
- The School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics ceremony follows on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Icardo Center.
The university held a reception for Antelope Valley graduates on June 3 at the Hellenic Center in Lancaster.
Each school recognizes honor graduates at separate events prior to commencement.
- The School of Education hosted its honors dinner June 1 at the Runner Café.
- The School of Humanities and Social Sciences honored its graduates June 2 in the Runner Café.
- The School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics hosted its brunch June 3 in the Stockdale Room of the Runner Café.
- The School of Business and Public Administration held its honors dinner May 18.
Commencement speakers this year are as follows:
- School of Education, Lynn Gillespie Beck, dean of the Gladys L. Benerd School of Education at the University of the Pacific in Stockton.
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Jeffrey Snyder, who heads the international practice group for the firm Partner, Crowell & Moring in Washington, D.C.
- School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Dr. Cesar Aristeiguieta, a board certified emergency physician and clinical professor at the University of California, Davis and the director of the California Emergency Medical Services Authority.
- School of Business and Public Administration, Ray Watson, fourth district Kern County supervisor.