Maine Perspective Front Page
Allen and Caron to Address December Commencement
More than 300 students, including 10 Ph.D. and one Ed.D. students, are expected to take part in the 193rd University of Maine Commencement on Saturday, Dec. 19 in Alfond Sport Arena.
This December, 439 students have applied for degrees - 295 undergraduates and 144 graduate students.
Commencement begins at 10:30 a.m. A community reception will be held from 9-10 a.m., in Wells Conference Center.
Students and 90 faculty members will march from Wells to Alfond, led by Fred Irons, the 1998 Distinguished Maine Professor, carrying the ceremonial mace.
A Celebration of Academia Address will be presented by Sandy Caron, this year's recipient of the Presidential Outstanding Teaching Award.
The Commencement Address will be delivered by Doug Allen, the 1998 recipient of the Presidential Research and Creative Achievement Award.
Students will receive their degrees on stage from the respective deans of their colleges, and will shake hands with UMaine President Peter Hoff.
University Marshals are Bill Small and Janice Kristo.
Music for the event will be provided by the UMaine Symphonic Brass Ensemble, under the direction of Josh Whitehouse, and the Maine Steiners.
In recent years, December Commencement has been scheduled prior to the start of finals week. The event is later this year, based on a 1996 Faculty Senate recommendation that December Commencement be scheduled on the Saturday preceding Dec. 20, to prevent the event from being held too close to Christmas.
The evening prior to Commencement, two Army ROTC cadets will be commissioned in a ceremony beginning at 6 p.m., 100 Corbett Business Building. A highlight of the Dec. 18 ceremony will be an address by Ralph Leonard, civilian aide to the secretary of the Army for Maine.