ESPN’s Van Pelt to address midyear graduates

ESPN SportsCenter anchor Scott Van Pelt, who has declared Madison to be America’s best college sports town, will deliver the charge to the graduates at the university’s winter commencement ceremonies on Sunday, Dec. 16, at the Kohl Center. He will speak at both the 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. ceremonies.

After visiting here in July, Van Pelt told his ESPN Radio audience that Madison is “as good as it gets.”

“This town has everything,” he said. “So the teams are relevant. Venues are unbelievable. The setting is gorgeous. Those teams mean everything to the town.”

Van Pelt’s career in sports broadcasting began in 1990 at WTTG-TV in Washington, D.C. In 1994 he joined The Golf Channel as an anchor and reporter. In 2001 he moved to ESPN as its lead professional golf reporter and host of the network’s coverage of golf’s major events.

He has covered all of the major golf tournaments, including the Masters, the U.S. Open, the British Open and the PGA Championship. He has also covered NCAA men’s and women’s championships, USGA events and Senior PGA Tour events.

Along with Michelle Tafoya and Kirk Herbstreit, Van Pelt is a co-host of “The Mike Tirico Show” on ESPN Radio.

Van Pelt also has a listing in the Internet Movie Database. In 1998 he played the role of Harry in a comedy short film titled “By the Seat of the Pants.”

Van Pelt earned a bachelor’s degree in radio, television and film from the University of Maryland. He is a native of Brookville, Md.

The following degrees will be granted at the 10 a.m. ceremony: Ph.D., master of fine arts, master’s and professional degrees, along with bachelor’s degrees from the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the schools of Education, Human Ecology, Medicine and Public Health, Nursing and Pharmacy.

The following degrees will be granted at the 2 p.m. ceremony: Bachelor’s degrees from the School of Business, the College of Engineering and the College of Letters and Science.

Approximately 2,000 students are eligible to receive degrees at this month’s ceremonies.

Each ceremony will last approximately one and a half hours. No tickets are required.

Degree candidates and guests should arrive at least 20 minutes before the start of their ceremony to ensure they are seated at the appointed time.

Parking will be available on a first-come, first-served basis in most university ramps and lots. Complimentary shuttle service between Union South and the Kohl Center will be available every 10–15 minutes between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.