Baylor University Celebrates Spring Commencement
by Paige Patton, (254) 710-3321
Baylor University will celebrate its annual commencement with a weekend of events Friday, May 12, and Saturday, May 13. More than 1,700 students will participate in commencement exercises, which have taken place annually since 1854. To date, Baylor has produced more than 135,000 graduates.
The President's Reception will be held Friday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Bill Daniel Student Center. All graduates and guests are invited to attend.
Doctoral candidates, their spouses, the chair of their departments and mentors are invited to dinner hosted by the Graduate School. The dinner will take place Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Barfield Drawing Room of the Bill Daniel Student Center. Reservations are required.
Commencement exercises will take place at the Ferrell Center in two ceremonies on Saturday, May 13. The 9:30 a.m. ceremony will honor graduates from the College of Arts and Sciences as well as masters and doctoral candidates from the respective schools. The Bearer of the Mace will be William F. Cooper, professor emeritus of philosophy. In both ceremonies, Will Davis, chairman of the board of regents, will bring greetings, and President John M. Lilley will deliver a message to the graduates.
During this ceremony, the George W. Truett Distinguished Church Service Award will be presented to Dr. Jerold R. McBride, retired Texas pastor and former president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and Dr. Charles Wade, executive director of the BGCT for the past six years. Wade is unable to attend the ceremony but will be honored with the award.
Outstanding professor awards for 2005-2006 will be presented to the following faculty during the morning exercises: Dr. Christopher Bader, assistant professor of sociology; Dr. David Eldridge, professor of biology; Dr. Diana Kendall, professor of sociology; Elizabeth S. Miller, professor of law; and Dr. Sarah-Jane Murray, assistant professor of medieval literature and French.
The 2:30 p.m. ceremony will honor graduates from the Hankamer School of Business and the Schools of Education, Engineering and Computer Science, Social Work, Music and the Louise Herrington School of Nursing, and masters and doctoral candidates from the respective schools.
The Bearer of the Mace will be James L. Williamson, professor emeritus of educational administration. Outstanding faculty honored at this ceremony will be Martha C. Agee, lecturer in business law; Dr. Charles J. Delaney, associate professor of real estate; Dr. Thomas M. Kelly, professor of economics and director of the Center of Business and Economic Research; Charles E. Kemp, Jr., senior lecturer in nursing; and Dr. Gaynor I. Yancey, associate professor of social work.
After each commencement exercise, the Baylor University Alumni Association will hold a reception for new graduates. The reception will be located outside the Ferrell Center and will offer refreshments, photo opportunities and a chance to register for Alumni Association membership.
On Saturday at 6 p.m. in Barfield Drawing Room, 12 Air Force ROTC cadets will be commissioned to the rank of second lieutenant. Lt. Col. David Riel, professor and chair of aerospace studies, will serve as guest speaker.
For more information about the commencement exercises, visit the website at https://commencement.web.baylor.edu/ or contact Lois Ferguson at (254) 710-8534.