WHAT: Washington University’s 147th Commencement. The university will bestow degrees on 2,655 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. The university also will bestow honorary degrees on six individuals.
WHO:
• Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC’s “Hardball with Chris Matthews” and NBC’s “The Chris Matthews Show,” will deliver the 2008 Commencement address.
• During the ceremony, Matthews also will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. Washington University’s five other honorary degree recipients and their degrees are:
Quincy Jones, composer, conductor, solo artist and record, film and television producer, doctor of humane letters; Lee Seng Tee, internationally recognized business executive, major philanthropist and patron of the arts, doctor of humane letters; Phyllis Schlafly, national leader of the conservative movement, author and editor, doctor of humane letters; Egon Schwarz, Ph.D., Washington University’s Rosa May Distinguished University Professor Emeritus in the Humanities, professor emeritus in German in Arts & Sciences and leading scholar of 19th- and 20th-century German literature, doctor of humane letters; and Jessie L. Ternberg, M.D., Ph.D., Washington University professor emerita of pediatrics and of pediatric surgery, renowned researcher and pioneer of women in medicine, doctor of science.
WHERE: Brookings Quadrangle, which is directly west of Brookings Hall, the university’s main administration building that sits on hill overlooking Forest Park.
WHEN: 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 16, 2008
MEDIA CHECK-IN: News organizations sending a reporter to Commencement need to call Sue Killenberg McGinn by 6 p.m. May 15 to make arrangements for a reserved-seating ticket. Mult boxes will be available.
ALL MEDIA MUST CHECK IN: Friday morning with WUSTL Public Affairs staff who will be located outside the south entrance to Brookings Hall, near the media parking.
MEDIA PARKING: Reserved media parking is available near the south end of Brookings Hall. Take Forsyth Boulevard or Forest Park Parkway to Hoyt Drive; take Hoyt to south leg of the circle drive that leads up to Brookings Hall, where a parking attendant will direct you. Please show attendant a media ID.
LIVE TV BROADCASTS: TV stations who plan to broadcast live from Brookings Quad must make arrangements with Liam Otten. Please call (314) 935-8494 (on 5/15) or (314) 324-2076 (on 5/16).
For more information the morning of Commencement, call Sue Killenberg McGinn at (314) 603-6008.