Dec 15, 2006 3 min read

CALIFORNIA – Two separate ceremonies and remarks to the August and December 2006 graduates from two distinguished university administrators will highlight California University of Pennsylvania’s 163rd Commencement. Both ceremonies will take place in Hamer Hall’s gymnasium today and Saturday. Cal U’s School of Graduate Studies and Research will hold its commencement ceremony at 7 p.m. today. The ceremony will include the vesting of the academic hood on each of the graduates.

Commencement for undergraduates in the College of Education and Human Services, the College of Liberal Arts and the Eberly College of Science and Technology will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Dr. Thomas G. Kinsey, dean of Cal U’s School of Graduate Studies and Research, will speak to the graduates at today’s commencement as well as give the Explanation of the Academic Hood.

Dr. Donald J. Thompson, Cal U provost, will give remarks at the Saturday undergraduate commencement. At this commencement ceremony, California University of Pennsylvania will also present an honorary doctoral degree, Doctor of Public Service, honoris causa, to Thompson.

University President Angelo Armenti, Jr. will greet the audiences, preside and confer degrees upon 547 undergraduate and graduate students, which do not include the 416 undergraduate and graduate students who will receive degrees in absentia.

The breakdown of degrees of the August and December 2006 attending graduates is 179 (graduate), 160 (education and human services), 97 (liberal arts) and 111 (science and technology). This is the fourth consecutive year that California University has conducted winter and spring commencements.

The Rev. Norman Hunt (retired), California Methodist Church, will deliver the invocation and benediction at both ceremonies, while Brass Unlimited will perform the processional and recessional.

Kathryn Sacco will be the organist, and the University Choir, under the direction of Dr. Yugo Ikach, will perform The National Anthem, alma mater and two choral selections: “To Everything, There is a Season” by Ed Harris and “Festival Arrangement of God Bless America” by Irving Berlin. California University’s Army ROTC will Post the Colors.

California University Television (CUTV) will broadcast both ceremonies live on Armstrong Cable (channel 61 Armstrong-Connellsville), Atlantic Broadband Communications (channel 21, formerly Charter Communications) and Comcast Mon Valley (channel 13). In case of an overflow crowd on Saturday, there will be viewing areas at the Natali Student Center’s Performance Center for the Saturday commencement.

A special area in Hamer Hall will be available for guests who are physically challenged. Personnel will be available at the elevator in Hamer Hall to assist guests to the designated area. As an alternative, those with special comfort requirements may wish to consider viewing the Dec. 16 ceremony in the Performance Center. Accommodations are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Inquiries about accommodations should be directed to 724-938-5781.

For more information concerning either commencement, call Diane Sesco, academic events coordinator, at 724-938-1522, or visit the commencement Web site at www.cup.edu/ academic/commencement.