WHAT: Washington University’s 149th Commencement. The university will award 2,809 degrees to 2,706 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. The university also will bestow honorary degrees on five individuals.
WHO: • Steven Chu, PhD, U.S. secretary of energy, will deliver the 2010 Commencement address.
• During the ceremony, Chu also will receive an honorary doctor of science degree. Washington University’s four other honorary degree recipients and their degrees are: Brian J. Druker, MD, director of the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Knight Cancer Institute and the JELD-WEN Chair of Leukemia Research, doctor of science; Joanne Knight, an active St. Louis community leader, volunteer and generous philanthropist, doctor of humanities; Richard A. Roloff, Washington University alumnus and special assistant to the chancellor, doctor of laws; and Nelson S. “Strobe” Talbott, president of the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., and former deputy secretary of state from 1994-2001, doctor of laws.
WHERE: Brookings Quadrangle, which is directly west of Brookings Hall, the university’s main administration building that sits on the hill overlooking Forest Park.
WHEN: 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 21, 2010
MEDIA RESERVED SEATING: News organizations sending a reporter to Commencement need to call Sue Killenberg McGinn by 5 p.m. May 20 to make arrangements for a reserved-seating ticket. Mult boxes will be available at the seats and near the stage.
MEDIA PARKING: Reserved media parking is available near the south end of Brookings Hall. Take Forsyth Boulevard or Forest Park Parkway to Hoyt Drive; take Hoyt to south leg of the circle drive that leads up to Brookings Hall, where a parking attendant will direct you. Please show attendant a media ID.
LIVE TV BROADCASTS: To reserve live TV parking close to the stage, trucks must be in place by 6 a.m. Friday; otherwise live trucks will have to park at the opposite end of the Quad. TV stations who plan to shoot live from Brookings Quad need to make arrangements with Liam Otten. Please call (314) 935-8494 on May 20 or (314) 324-2076 on May 21.
VIOLENT WEATHER PLAN: Commencement will be held outside rain or shine. However, in case of violent weather, Commencement for undergraduates will be held in the Athletic Complex’s Field House, still beginning at 8:30 a.m. If the violent weather schedule is necessary, media will be notified by 7 a.m. Friday.
For more information the morning of Commencement, call Sue Killenberg McGinn at (314) 603-6008.
HIGHLIGHTS: To view WUSTL’s Gallery of Outstanding Graduates, go to news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/20708.aspx.