May Commencement ceremonies will take place, for the first time, at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex. Complete details about the ceremony are available on the Commencement website.
Commencement is May 7, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. Eligible to attend the May ceremony are 2,124 students who have either completed requirements for their degrees in May or applied for graduation in August.
May graduates number 1,666 and are recipients of 1,304 bachelor's degrees, 294 master's degrees, sixty doctoral degrees, and eight associate degrees.
New to this year's commencement celebration is the recognition of members of the fiftieth reunion class (graduates of the class of 1961).
The honorary degree recipient and ceremony speaker is Dr. Karlin Roth Toner, a 1983 IUP graduate and aviation and aeronautics expert. She is originally of Greensburg and now lives in Washington, D.C.
Again this year, all students participating in May Commencement will be recognized by name and congratulated on stage by Dr. David Werner, IUP interim president, and members of the platform party.
Natalie-Mae Schaefer, of Gibsonia, a Journalism and Anthropology double major and a student in the Robert E. Cook Honors College, will serve as the student Commencement speaker.
Of the bachelor's degree recipients, 638 qualify for Latin honors (a grade-point average of 3.25 or higher) and thirty-six achieved a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. These students will be recognized during the ceremony. See a complete list below.
President Werner will preside over the Commencement ceremony and will offer welcoming remarks, introduce the guests, and join Susan Delaney, vice chair of IUP's Council of Trustees; Dr. Gerald Intemann, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs; and Donna M. Griffith, assistant dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research, in conferring the degrees.
Alumni Association greetings will be offered by Sandra M. Barsotti, a 1987 IUP graduate and secretary of the IUP Alumni Association.
Recipients of the 2011 Distinguished Faculty Awards will also be recognized during the ceremony. They are Dr. Lynne B. Alvine, English, Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching; Barbara Blackledge, Theater and Dance, Distinguished Faculty Award for Creative Arts; Dr. Janet E. Goebel, English and director of the Cook Honors College, Distinguished Faculty Award for Service; and Dr. John Sitton, Political Science, Distinguished Faculty Award for Research. The awards were presented during the university's Honors Day program in March.
With the change in location to the Kovalchick Complex, parking is now open on campus to all visitors, except in the following areas:
- Clark Hall Parking lot, which is reserved for members of the class of 1961
- Portions of the Miller Stadium parking lot, which will be reserved for handicapped parking
- Kovalchick Complex VIP parking area in front of the building
Police officers will be located at each intersection from Grant Street south to the Kovalchick Complex to assist visitors.
Many departments also hold individual Commencement ceremonies. See a complete list of departmental graduation ceremonies.
The following graduating seniors completed their first bachelor's degree program with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average:
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Hannah JoBeth Allison
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LeeAnn M. Helenic Badzik
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Robin S. Banks
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Stephanie Lynne Bearjar
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Meredith Suzanne Lindsey Bird
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Kimberly J. Bradford
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Ashley Nicole Craver
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Fautma M. Eshnuk
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Jonathan Edward Henninger
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Travis Eincle Himes
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Jacqueline C. Ionadi
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Jenna Leigh Irwin
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Gretchen Marie Ludwig
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Michele L. Lugowski
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Anita L. Madia
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Anne M. McMaster
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Cristina J. Meinert
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Jeffrey R. Moon
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Haley M. Noel
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Meghan E. Paine
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Lauren Anne Petro
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Sarah Lynn Rodgers
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Justin Rossi
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Corina Shivonne Rupert
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Alyse Mae Scheuermann
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Brandi Leigh Shine
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Bethany L. Slaugenhaupt
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Kelly R. Sutter
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Melanie A. Swann
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Kristine M. Thomas
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Melody Lynne Thomas
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Chelsea Eleanor Rose Tompkins
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Rachel Marie Umbel
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Heather Dawn Wagner
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Wentao Wang
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Jessica M. Woods