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UI, WSU commencement ceremonies planned for SaturdayDec 05, 2012 (Moscow-Pullman Daily News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- More than 3,000 students, friends and family members are expected to attend commencement ceremonies this weekend at the University of Idaho and Washington State University. WSU's ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. in Beasley Coliseum, and UI's ceremony will be at 12:30 p.m. in the Kibbie Dome. UI's commencement address will be delivered by Lynn Baird, dean of Library Services. Baird began at the university in 1974 and has held many leadership positions at the library. Two honorary degrees will also be given at the UI ceremony to alumni Douglas and Arthur F. "Skip" Oppenheimer, who serve as president and CEO of Oppenheimer Companies Inc., a national food processing and distribution organization and one of Idaho's leading corporations. The Oppenheimers are active philanthropists in the areas of economic development, education, arts, health and children's issues. Concerned about ethics in business and the media, the Oppenheimers established the Oppenheimer Ethics Fund and the University of Idaho Oppenheimer Ethics Symposium. Immediately after the ceremony, the President's Reception will take place on the main floor of the Kibbie Dome, where all are invited to enjoy refreshments with President M. Duane Nellis and his wife, Ruthie. WSU President Elson S. Floyd will speak briefly at Washington's ceremony and distribute degrees. WSU's commencement attire will be more uniform this year thanks to a committee that decided honor cords for students with a 3.5 or higher grade-point average will all be the same. Custom doctorate gowns are also new this year. The gowns are now of higher quality, said commencement coordinator Teri Hansen, who has been working on the custom gown for more than five years. Parking will be limited for the WSU ceremony, but the university provides a shuttle service that will be available every 12-15 minutes from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. To ride the shuttle, park in the Yellow 4 lot adjacent to the Lewis Alumni Centre, the shuttle will take riders to the front of Beasley on North Fairway Drive. After the ceremony is finished, the shuttle will take riders from the front of the coliseum to the alumni center. Disability parking will be available around the coliseum. Maps are available at www.parking.wsu.edu, for more information about the shuttle or special needs parking call the WSU Visitor Center at (509) 335-4636. Those who cannot attend WSU's commencement in person may watch it live on Cable 8 or on videostream at www.experience.wsu.edu, where it will be archived after the event is concluded. Additional UI commencement information, including parking, lodging and maps are available at www.uidaho.edu/commencement/wintercommencement. ___ (c)2012 the Moscow-Pullman Daily News (Moscow, Idaho) Visit the Moscow-Pullman Daily News (Moscow, Idaho) at www.dnews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |