Advisory/Spring Commencement coverage

5/15/13

TO: Media representatives
FROM: John Lucas, 608-262-8287, jplucas@wisc.edu
RE: ADVISORY/SPRING COMMENCEMENT COVERAGE

The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s spring commencement ceremonies will be held Friday, May 17 through Sunday, May 19. Approximately 6,200 students are expected to participate this weekend.

Here’s what media representatives need to know for coverage purposes:

• Free media parking will be available in Lot 46 on Lake or Frances Streets. Parking permits are not required.
• UW alum, actor and writer Anders Holm will deliver the charge to the grads at the 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. ceremonies on Saturday, May 18, and the 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. ceremonies on Sunday, May 19. Each ceremony will last about two hours. Media members are asked to check in with University Communications staff stationed at the sound board.

Holm, star of Comedy Central’s “Workaholics,” will hold a brief media availability at approximately 1:15 p.m. Saturday in the Kohl Center media room. More on Holm.

• Due to enhanced security measures, media bags and boxes cannot be left unattended in the Kohl Center or they will be subject to search by UWPD.
• A mult box will be available for broadcast recording. It will be located on the electricians’ table to the right of the stage.
• The ceremonies will be streamed live for the benefit of friends and relatives who are unable to attend. Windows Media Player and a broadband connection are required in order to view them. The link to the streaming will be on the university’s main website. The stream will not be available until the beginning of each ceremony.
• The university is also inviting graduates and others to take part in sharing their experience through social media by using the Twitter hashtag #UWGrad and by sharing their photos on Instagram, also on the tag #UWGrad.
• Transcripts of the major commencement speeches are expected to be posted on the university’s website early next week.

Here are the ceremonies and the University Communications personnel who will be staffing them (stationed at the sound board for assistance):

Friday, May 17, 5:30 p.m. — Chris Barncard

All doctoral and professional degrees (includes Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Musical Arts, Doctor of Juridical Science, Juris Doctor, Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Doctor of Pharmacy, Doctor of Audiology, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Laws, Master of Laws-Legal Institutions, Master of Public Health, Master of Physician Assistant Studies.

At this ceremony, honorary doctorates will be given to Errol Morris, Richard Alley and Dale Chihuly. Morris, who won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Film in 2003 for “The Fog of War,” is regarded as one of the most innovative and influential filmmakers of his generation. Alley, the Evan Pugh Professor of Geoscience at Penn State University, has made significant contributions to the study and understanding of climate change through his research on the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. Chihuly is considered the preeminent artist working in the glass medium today.

Saturday, May 18, 10 a.m. — Greg Bump

Bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, School of Education, School of Human Ecology, School of Nursing and School of Pharmacy; and master’s degrees from the School of Medicine and Public Health, and the Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.

Saturday, May 18, 2:30 p.m. — Susannah Brooks

Bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the School of Business and College of Engineering.

Sunday, May 19, 10 a.m. — John Lucas

Bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the College of Letters & Science, majors A through H (African languages and literature through history of science, medicine and technology).

Sunday, May 19, 2:30 p.m. — Jill Sakai

Bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the College of Letters & Science, majors I through Z (international public affairs through zoology).

Note: Candidates in the College of Letters & Science with more than one major attend the ceremony for their major that comes first alphabetically. For example, an economics/political science double-major graduate attends the 10 a.m. ceremony.