UT Dallas expects to award approximately 1,600 degrees at its May graduation ceremonies, which are planned for this Friday and Saturday in the University’s Activity Center, and there are sure to be many elated smiles to be captured for posterity.
Held each year in the spring and fall, spring commencement is always the larger of the two ceremonies, and this year will be no different according to Karen Jarrell, UT Dallas’ registrar.
“We always expect a much larger crowd in May,” Jarrell said.
At the ceremonies this weekend, UT Dallas expects to grant about 500 graduate and Ph.D. degrees and 1,100 undergraduate degrees.
Speeches will be given by student representatives from each of the University’s seven schools, plus one graduate student. At UT Dallas, students compete to present the commencement address and are selected by a committee of peers and faculty based on academic achievement, campus and community involvement and speech content.
The speakers for spring 2008 are:
- Jacqueline Timte —School of Management (undergraduate)
- Roza Baczkowska — School of Management (graduate)
- Conrad Capili — School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences (undergraduate)
- Kerri West — School of General Studies (undergraduate)
- Jordan Youngblood — School of Arts and Humanities (undergraduate)
- Andrew Stark — Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science (undergraduate)
- Rachel Markowitz — School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences (undergraduate)
- Bree Szostek — School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (undergraduate)
“There were so many excellent speaker candidates this year that we decided to select representatives from each school, plus a graduate student,” said Dr. Michael Coleman, associate provost and dean of undergraduate education at the University. “I’m very proud of this year’s graduating class, which, incidentally, was our largest freshman class ever at the time they entered UT Dallas just four years ago. They are bright scholars, bright leaders and exceptional University citizens.”
UT Dallas President Dr. David E. Daniel also is expected to address candidates at each ceremony.
As in past years, the largest of the University’s seven schools, the School of Management, is expected to award the most degrees. Next will be the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences; the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science; the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics; the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences; the School of Arts and Humanities; and the School of General Studies.
Since its founding in 1969, UT Dallas has awarded more than 62,400 degrees.
This weekend’s graduation schedule is as follows:
Friday, May 9, 2008
- 4 p.m. — School of Management, undergraduates
- 7 p.m. — School of Management, graduate students
Saturday, May 10, 2008
- 9 a.m. — School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, School of General Studies
- 12 p.m. — School of Arts and Humanities, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science
- 3 p.m. — School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Webcasts of the ceremonies will be provided by the University’s Office of Media Services. Viewers should note that there will be at least a 45 second time delay in viewing the Web casts.
