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Commencement week begins Monday, May 14, with a variety of celebrations and ceremonies designed to warmly send Washington University in St. Louis’ Class of 2012 out into the world. The week begins with the Chancellor’s Dinner to Honor Graduating Seniors at 6 p.m. Monday, May 14 and culminates with the 151st Commencement Friday May 18.

Cong (Lucy) Li is an advocate for innovation and entrepreneurship, especially among graduate students. That’s just one of the reasons Li, who will receive a doctorate in neurosciences from the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences in Arts & Sciences May 18, was chosen the Record’s Outstanding Graduate in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

Kranti V. Peddada, a rising junior in the School of Engineering & Applied Science, was among the approximately 230 WUSTL undergraduates from a wide variety of disciplines who presented their original research during the Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium April 28 in the Laboratory Sciences Building.

Maranda Witherspoon has agreed to co-lead a group of community members and public health experts who are working to improve cancer prevention and care in medically underserved populations.

At the groundbreaking ceremony May 7 on Washington University’s Danforth Campus for two new buildings — Knight Hall and Bauer Hall — needed to address the growth of the Olin Business School’s graduate business education programs, Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton announced a commitment of $3 million from Emerson Charitable Trust. Emerson’s gift is designated for an auditorium for the growing number of special events, lectures, conferences, and student activities offered by Olin. The 300-seat venue will be located on the first floor of Knight Hall.

David Levine is a former high school teacher who saw a need to serve people with limited access to health care. The Record’s Outstanding Graduate from the School of Medicine, he will graduate May 18 with a medical degree and is headed to New York University in July to begin a residency in internal medicine-primary care.

The Graduate Student Senate of Arts & Sciences honored seven faculty members with Outstanding Faculty Mentor Awards during its 13th annual awards ceremony and reception April 11 in the Women’s Building Formal Lounge. The awards recognize faculty members whose dedication to mentoring PhD students and commitment to excellence in graduate training have made a significant contribution to the quality of life and professional development of students in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Special recognition for excellence in mentoring went to nine other faculty members at the ceremony.

A lifetime of entrepreneurship and tenacity drives Vivian Gibson, senior director of volunteer recruitment at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri. Gibson, the Record‘s Outstanding Graduate from University College in Arts & Sciences. will receiver her master’s degree in nonprofit management May 18.

Michael J. Welch, PhD, a pioneering radiochemist who was the author of more than 550 papers on the use of radioactive drugs in diagnosis and treatment of disease, died Sunday, May 6, 2012. He was 72.

Senior Hannah Rabinowitz and junior Colleen Rhoades have been named co-recipients of this year’s Rabbi Ferdinand M. Isserman Prize. The Isserman Prize recognizes a WUSTL student or students who have made significant contributions in leadership and service to ecumenical or interfaith activities, both on campus and in the wider community.