Distinguished alumni to speak at Cal U commencement
CALIFORNIA – Two distinguished university alumni who symbolize California University of Pennsylvania’s mission of building character and building careers will highlight the university’s 164th commencement ceremonies. Both ceremonies will take place in the Hamer Hall gymnasium. Cal U’s School of Graduate Studies and Research will hold its commencement ceremony at 7 p.m. May 11. 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. May 12.
U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Paul K. Van Riper, who graduated from Cal U in 1963, will speak during the graduate commencement. George Prodan, a 1974 Cal U graduate, was the former vice president of Worldwide Marketing and will give remarks at the undergraduate commencement.
Dr. Angelo Armenti Jr., university president, will greet the audiences, preside and confer degrees upon 702 undergraduate and graduate students, which do not include the 137 undergraduate and graduate students who will receive degrees in absentia.
The breakdown of degrees of the attending graduates is 111 graduate, 201 education and human services, 196 liberal arts and 194 science and technology.
This is the fourth consecutive year that California University has conducted winter and spring commencements.
Dr. Sean C. Madden, interim provost, will introduce the platform party and present the candidates at the graduate ceremony with Dr. Thomas G. Kinsey, dean of Cal U’s School of Graduate Studies and Research, and Dr. Rose Reinhart, associate provost/ registrar. Kinsey also will give the explanation of the academic hood.
Madden will introduce the platform party at the undergraduate ceremony and will present the candidates along with the following people: Geraldine M. Jones, dean of the College of Education and Human Services; Dr. Laura Tuennerman-Kaplan, interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts; and Dr. Leonard A. Colelli, dean of the Eberly College of Science and Technology.
The Rev. Jana Quisenberry 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 sing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the alma mater and two choral selections. Cal U’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, May 12, there will be viewing areas at the Natali Student Center’s Performance Center for the undergraduate 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 undergraduate 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, please call Diane Sesco, academic events coordinator, at 724-938-1522, or visit the commencement Web site at www.cup.edu/academic/commencement.