Erin Kaplan
Western Herald
(Western Herald file photo) Punitha Malar receives her masters degree in Industrial Engineering from President Dunn during the Spring 2009 commencement ceremony which took place in WMU’s Miller Auditorium.
By 2 o’clock Saturday, June 27, 1,500 Western Michigan University students will be considered alum as they walk on stage at Miller Auditorium and receive their diplomas. In honor of this rite of passage, WMU President John Dunn, Ph.D., will preside over two ceremonies, one at 9 a.m. and another at noon.
The 9 a.m. ceremony will be for graduates of the colleges of Education and Fine Arts, Extended University Programs, and The Haworth College of Business. At noon, a second ceremony will take place for graduates of the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Health and Human Services.
“Every day is a great day to be a bronco,” said aviation flight science major Richard Lester. “But graduation is the best day to be a bronco. It’s a culmination of everything the graduating class has worked for in our careers here at Western.”
In total, it is predicted that about 1,000 degrees will be given out at the bachelor’s level, over 500 at the master’s level, and nearly 30 at the doctoral level on Saturday.
“Graduation days are some of the happiest days on the WMU campus,” said Provost Tim Green. “It is an opportunity for the faculty and staff to celebrate the accomplishments and successes of our students. We enjoy wishing them success in their lives and careers.”
The ceremony will be broadcasted both on EduCable Channel 5, on Charter Communications’ Public Media Network channel 22, and on the Web, at wmich.edu/commencement/broadcasts/. Additionally, each graduating student has been provided with six guest tickets.
“I’m looking forward to graduating because my four years at Western have shaped me as a person and its going to be an exciting thing to put on a cap and gown and call myself a Western graduate,” Justine Aronson, a vocal performance major, said.
On leaving the place he’s called home for four years, management major Thomas Engles said, “Western was an amazing place to learn, grow, and meet life-long friends. Everything from the dorms to shows at Miller; it was an awesome experience that prepared me for life. I will miss WMU greatly but will always reflect on how much it changed my life and turned me into the career-ready person I am today. Fight on Broncos!”
“We hope all our new alumni will keep in close contact with the university,” Provost Green added. “We want to hear about your successful careers and we want to know how we can further assist you in your lives.”
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