Published 2010-05-19T00:00:00Z”/>
Christine De Jesus
Chico State’s 120th commencement will be held 9 a.m. Saturday, May 22, and Sunday, May 23, at University Stadium. Saturday’s commencement will include about 1,500 students from the Colleges of Agriculture, Business, Behavioral and Social Sciences, Engineering, Computer Science and Construction Management, according to a Chico State press release.
An honorary doctorate presentation will be presented to David Favor, founder of three nonprofit corporations that provide for emotionally disturbed children, during Saturday’s commencement, said Susan Anderson, director of commencement and alumni and parent relations.
Sunday’s commencement will include about 1,300 students from the Colleges of Communication and Education, Natural Sciences and Humanities and Fine Arts, according to a Chico State news release.
President Paul Zingg will speak at both ceremonies along with two reflection speakers, Anderson said. Graduating senior Talia Israel is Saturday’s reflection speaker from the College of Business and Preston Countryman from the College of Natural Sciences will speak on Sunday.
For the first time students will receive diploma covers and will enter the stadium through four lines instead of two, Anderson said. The ceremonies will also feature two large video screens.
“When the students are crossing the stage and shaking the hand of the dean, their parents will actually be able to see them on the video wall,” she said. “We’ll have one on either sides of the stage.”
Chico State is implementing the video walls to help encourage students and parents not to leave before the end of the two-hour ceremony, Anderson said.
“Chico State has a real challenge of students and parents leaving the ceremony early,” she said.
A slideshow presentation of the graduating class will be shown before and after the ceremony, Anderson said. The presentation will include photos taken from student organizations and senior portraits by photographer Sean Chen.
The commencement ceremony is to show people that for many students, school has ended and a new beginning is starting, Israel said.”This is the end of the road as far as undergraduate is concerned,” Israel said.
The stadium gates will open at 7:15 a.m. both days, Anderson said. It is going to be busy and crowded. In addition to the students, faculty and staff, there will be thousands of guests.
Parents should bring a hat, sunscreen, a camera and a good attitude, Anderson said.
Parking is going to be very difficult and she would recommend parking a little further away and walking, Anderson said. A shuttle will be provided from the campus parking structure to University Stadium.
Graduation T-shirts will be sold for $25 at the ceremonies, she said. The shirt has a list of students’ names on the back.
Christine De Jesus can be reached at<a href= “javascript:void(location.href=’mailto:’+String.fromCharCode(99,100,101,106,101,115,117,115,64,116,104,101,111,114,105,111,110,46,99,111,109)+’?subject=re%3A%20Getting%20ready%20for%20graduation’)”>[email protected]</a>
