Large Crowds Expected for Spring Graduation

UT Dallas expects to award 1,944 degrees at its May graduation ceremonies, planned for this Friday and Saturday in the University’s Activity Center.

The ceremonies — five in all — will take place May 15 at 4 and 7 p.m. and May 16 at 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m.

Commencement ceremonies are held each year in the spring and fall. Spring has always been the larger of the two, and this year is no exception, said Curt Eley, vice president for Enrollment Management.

“We always anticipate a larger crowd in May, but this year we’re planning for an even bigger group because the entering freshman class in 2005 was one of our largest in recent years,” Eley said.

Graduates and their families are cautioned to be aware of ongoing construction on campus, particularly with new traffic patterns and road closures.  Ample parking will be available in Lot J and overflow parking will be available in Lots M, Q, D and F, as well as Lots H and I on the western side of campus.  University Police also will be on hand to assist families with directions.

“Students and their families should be patient and cautious, allow for plenty of time to navigate around the construction, and be especially mindful of increased pedestrian traffic,” Eley added.    

With the latest group of graduates, the University will have conferred more than 68,000 degrees during its 40-year history.

In keeping with tradition, nine students have been chosen as commencement speakers.  The students competed to present an address at the graduation ceremonies and were selected by a committee of their peers and faculty.  They were judged on academic achievement, campus and community involvement and speech content.

The speakers and their degrees and schools are:

• Ryan Blodgett — Bachelor of Science in business administration from the School of Management.
• Maya Bouali — Bachelor of Science in finance from the School of Management.
• Sara Clingan — Bachelor of Arts in political science and a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences.
• Stephen Dunlap — Master of Business Administration, School of Management.
• Jessica Harpham — Bachelor of Science in biology, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
• Julie Kangas — Bachelor of Arts with a double major in psychology from the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and in art and performance from the School of Arts and Humanities.
• Felicity Lenes — Bachelor of Science in molecular biology, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. 
• Daniella Poole — Bachelor of Arts in literary studies, School of Arts and Humanities.
• Bradley Wallace — Bachelor of Science in computer science, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. 

UT Dallas President David E. Daniel also will address graduates, their families, friends and supporters.

Among those expected to receive degrees are 729 graduate students and Ph.D. candidates and 1,215 undergraduates.

The largest of UT Dallas’ seven schools, the School of Management, will award the most degrees: 665.

Next are the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences with 271; the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science with 271; the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics with 241; the School of Arts and Humanities with 207; the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences with 167; and the School of Interdisciplinary Studies with 122.