Ohio congresswoman to speak at winter commencement

U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, the senior woman in the 112th Congress and a UW–Madison alumna, will deliver the charge to the graduates at the university’s two winter commencement ceremonies on Sunday, Dec. 19, at the Kohl Center.

Kaptur recently won her 15th term in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she represents northern Ohio’s ninth district. The Toledo native was first elected to Congress in 1982 in an upset.

Kaptur is now a member of the House Appropriations and Budget committees and also the first Democratic woman ever to serve on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. She is the author of “Women of Congress: A Twentieth Century Odyssey,” a book published by the Congressional Quarterly in 1996.

Kaptur is known for her successful effort to authorize construction of a World War Ⅱ Memorial in Washington, D.C. She has advocated for proper care and compensation for veterans and their families.

Kaptur has fought against trade agreements such as NAFTA and Permanent Normal Trade Relations for China. She has been involved in national efforts to address the foreclosure crisis, calling for accountability and sound policy.

Kaptur was the first member of her family to attend college. She earned her bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Wisconsin in 1968 and went on to receive her master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Michigan. She served as an urban adviser to President Jimmy Carter.

Each of the commencement ceremonies will be approximately two hours long.

The following degrees will be conferred at the 10 a.m. ceremony:

• All doctoral and professional degrees (including Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Musical Arts, Doctor of Juridical Science, Juris Doctor, Doctor of Medicine, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Laws-Legal Institutions, Master of Public Health); all master’s degrees; and 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 conferred at the 2:30 p.m. ceremony:

• Bachelor’s degrees from the School of Business, the College of Engineering and the College of Letters & Science (including journalism, music and social work).

Generally there are approximately 1,600 students who are eligible to receive their degrees at mid-year commencement. The exact number won’t be determined until after the winter break (late January).

Complimentary shuttle bus service will be provided for both ceremonies to transport graduates and guests between the engineering campus and the Kohl Center. The buses will run every 10-15 minutes from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. The shuttle will pick up and drop off passengers at the Madison Metro bus stop located near the intersection of North Randall Avenue and Engineering Drive, then proceed to the Kohl Center, and return to North Randall Avenue. The shuttle stops will be designated by signs.