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Media advisory/Spring Commencement coverage

May 12, 2014

5/12/14
TO: Media representatives
FROM: Susannah Brooks, 608-262-3846, srbrooks2@wisc.edu
RE: MEDIA ADVISORY/SPRING COMMENCEMENT COVERAGE

The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s spring commencement ceremonies will be held Friday and Saturday, May 16 and 17.

Approximately 6,400 students are expected to participate, with nearly 1,000 on Friday at the Kohl Center and 5,400 on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium, 1440 Monroe St. This is the first time commencement ceremonies have been held at Camp Randall in over two decades.

Please note that media credentials will be required to cover the noon Saturday ceremony at Camp Randall Stadium. For media planning to attend the Camp Randall Stadium ceremony, requests for media credentials should be made by noon on Friday, May 16 to Greg Bump at gbump@wisc.edu or 608-890-2166.

More information on both ceremonies is available online at http://commencement.wisc.edu, as well as a campus traffic advisory at http://www.news.wisc.edu/22845.

General information for coverage purposes:

  • Transcripts of the major commencement speeches are expected to be posted on the university’s website early next week.
  • Graduates, family and friends are encouraged to share their commencement experience through social media by using the Twitter hashtag #UWGrad and by sharing their photos on Instagram, also on the tag #UWGrad.
  • 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 homepage at http://www.wisc.edu. The stream will not be available until the beginning of each ceremony.
  • No designated media parking will be available; however, parking is available for free in all campus lots on a first-come, first-served basis from noon on Friday through 6 p.m. on Sunday (excluding Lots 18 and 19, near Camp Randall). Parking for live shots at either ceremony location, if needed, is available by contacting Shane Burgess at spb@athletics.wisc.edu or 608-220-5704 (cell).

For media planning to attend the Kohl Center ceremony (Friday, May 16 at 5:30 p.m.), credentials are not needed.

  • Students receiving degrees at Friday’s ceremony: 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.
  • Length: approximately two hours.
  • Honorary doctorates: Rocco Landesman, Thomas Lyon and David Maraniss. Landesman, a UW–Madison graduate, is a Broadway theater producer and former chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. Lyon is a pioneer in the dairy industry and cooperative movement who served as president of the UW System Board of Regents. Maraniss, who attended UW–Madison, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist who has also contributed heavily to civic life in Madison. More information is available at http://www.news.wisc.edu/22684.
  • Media arrival: Please enter at the media entrance, located off of Frances Street.
  • University Communications liaison: Kelly Tyrrell
  • Mult box location: near the soundboard to the right of the stage.

Again, for media planning to attend the Camp Randall Stadium ceremony requests for media credentials should be made by noon on Friday, May 16 to Greg Bump at gbump@wisc.edu or 608-890-2166. Here are more coverage details for Saturday’s ceremony:

  • Students receiving degrees at Saturday’s ceremony: All bachelor’s and non-professional master’s degrees from all schools and colleges.
  • Length: approximately 75 minutes.
  • Speaker: Jon Huntsman, Jr., former governor of Utah and U.S. ambassador to China, will deliver the charge to the graduates. More information on Huntsman is available at http://www.news.wisc.edu/22663.
  • Pre-event media availability: Friday, May 16. Live shots are available during morning and evening news shows; otherwise, media availability will take place between noon-2 p.m. and 3-6 p.m. Contact Shane Burgess at spb@athletics.wisc.edu or 608-220-5704 (cell) for more information.
  • Media arrival: Members of the media are welcome to arrive beginning at 9:30 a.m.; please enter at Gate 4. Maps of the event will be available at check-in. The main media area will be located along the west sideline (below the press box). Media representatives may access both stadium sidelines and the area behind the graduate seating area on the Fieldhouse side of the field. The Camp Randall press box will not be available.
  • University Communications liaisons: Chris Barncard, Susannah Brooks, Greg Bump, Dennis Chaptman and John Lucas
  • Mult box location: At the 50-yard line on the west side of the field.

University Communications content available now includes information on graduates with compelling stories at http://www.news.wisc.edu/22842 (see below for graduate contact information), and historic photos of past ceremonies at Camp Randall at http://www.news.wisc.edu/newsphotos/commencementHistory.html

A news release and slideshow covering this year’s commencement exercises will be available shortly after the Saturday ceremony.

Here are the hometowns and contact information for individuals mentioned in the story about notable graduates:

Sue Montgomery: Cottage Grove, Wis., 608-839-0117, smontgom@wisc.edu

Jessi Kendall: Madison, Wis., 608-334-8526, jessicaevans@wisc.edu

Jacqulene J. White: Milwaukee, Wis., 414-339-2100

Holly Hovanec: Newton, Wis., 224-217-7133, hhovanec@gmail.com, hovanec@wisc.edu

Kaylie Duffy: Fort Atkinson, Wis., 920-650-2243

Wally Graeber: Twin Lakes, Wis., graeber@wisc.edu

Brendyn Reinecke: Sugarland, Texas, 843-327-4382

Karma Palzom: Madison, Wis., 608-772-6218

Michael Wauters: Bainbridge Island, Wash., wautersm@gmail.com

Jamie Ritchart: Horicon, Wis., 920-319-2516

Janetta S. Pegues: Chicago, Ill., 608-320-7613

Max Salick: Hartland, Wis., salick@wisc.edu

Maimoua Xiong: Fresno, Calif., 608-695-3677

Felicia R. Leroy: Sturgeon Bay, Wis., 920-495-5015, felicia.r.leroy@gmail.com

Melinda Mutschler: Prescott, Wis., 612-720-6646

Ye Du: Zibo, Shandong Province, China, 608-556-2318. duye07@gmail.com