June 1, 2009 - California State University, Bakersfield will celebrate its 39th commencement Friday and Saturday, June 12 and 13, with over 1,400 members of the class of 2009 being recognized at two ceremonies. In addition, a hooding ceremony for graduate students in all schools will be held Wednesday, June 10, at 6 p.m. in the Icardo Center.

For undergraduates, two ceremonies will be held; one for the Schools of Education, Business and Public Administration, and Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and another for the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The prospective graduates will don their caps and gowns to participate in the ceremonies that culminate their education. Of the 1,422 students eligible to participate in the spring undergraduate ceremonies, 211 are from the School of Business and Public Administration, 77 are from the School of Education, 632 are from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and 210 are from the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. A total of 292 graduate students are eligible to participate in the hooding ceremony.

The commencement ceremonies are as follows:

Wednesday, June 10:
Graduate students (all schools) will have a hooding ceremony at 6:00 p.m. in the Icardo Center. The hooding ceremony is for master's degree candidates during which a faculty member places the hood over the head of the graduate, signifying his or her success in completing the graduate program.

Commencement speaker: CSUB President Horace Mitchell
Mitchell became the fourth president of CSUB in July 2004 after 36 years of experience in higher education. Under Mitchell's leadership, the university has continued a period of rapid development, with a vision to extend the excellence and diversity of the faculty and academic programs, enhance the quality of the student experience and strengthen community engagement.

Friday, June 12:
The Schools of Education, Business and Public Administration, and Natural Sciences and Mathematics will hold their ceremony at 7:00 a.m. in the CSUB Amphitheatre.

Commencement speaker: John Nilon, director of the Kern County Department of Public Health
As director of KCDPH, Nilon is responsible for 400 staff and a budget of $36 million. Prior to this position, Nilon served as director of the Kern County Department of Child Support Services. In his position, he directed the implementation of several strategic performance improvement strategies, leading to the most improved county in California for child support. Additionally, Nilon is the host of the weekly television program Kids Count. Nilon is a CSUB alumnus.

Saturday, June 13:
The Schools of Humanities and Social Sciences will hold their ceremony at 7:00 a.m. in the CSUB Amphitheatre.

Commencement speaker: Dolores Huerta, president of the Dolores Huerta Foundation and co-founder of the United Farm Workers Union in 1962 with Cesar Chavez. Among her contributions to the UFW was her work as the coordinator for East Coast efforts in the table grape boycott in 1968-69. In September of 2003, Huerta was appointed to the board of regents for the University of California. She also serves on the boards of the Feminist Majority and People for the American Way.

The university will also hold a reception for Antelope Valley graduates on Sunday, June 7, at 3 p.m. at the Hellenic Center in Lancaster. Assemblyman Steve Knight will be the guest speaker at the event.