EUGENE, Ore. -- (June 4, 2010) – The University of Oregon is putting an emphasis on the 4,340 graduates who are eligible to participate in commencement exercises on Monday, June 14.
Encouraging graduates, their families and members of the community to participate in the morning graduation ceremony and celebrate throughout the day is a major change for the commencement exercises, according to Amber Garrison Duncan, UO director of family programs and commencement.
"Over the past year, a committee has been planning a transformation of the commencement exercises to make them more celebratory for our students, families and the community," said Duncan. "We are pleased with the new traditions we plan to start this year and build upon in years to come."
Commencement will begin with an academic parade at 9 a.m. called Duck Walk. The academic parade will start at Gerlinger Hall and process down 15th Street to Hayward Field. Students are encouraged to carry signs, decorate their mortar board cap or wear symbolic family or organizational pieces to celebrate the festive atmosphere as they enter through a large "O".
In Hayward Field, graduates will take a walking lap around the track before being seated on the infield to start the University Graduation Celebration from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Hayward Field will open at 7:30 a.m. for guest seating in the East Grandstands. The event is open to the public and does not require a ticket.
The ceremony, presided over by UO President Richard Lariviere, will include three student speakers, video presentations of campus events over the past several years and keynote remarks from Seattle architect and UO alumnus Johnpaul Jones, who graduated in 1967.
Jones was a lead designer on the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. He attributes his holistic design approach to his education at UO and his American Indian heritage. He co-founded the firm Jones & Jones in Seattle that is known for its innovations in nature and culture-based planning and design, including a revolution in zoo design.
Following the University Graduation Celebration, schools, colleges and departments will hold 28 individual ceremonies at either noon or 3 p.m. In total, 4,340 students are eligible to receive 4,525 degrees. Additional fact sheet details are available here.
UO encourages all attendees to park at Autzen Stadium or use the Lane Transit District bus or EmX to get to campus on graduation day. Organizers made arrangements for parking at Autzen Stadium with free shuttles to the corner of 13th Avenue and University Street beginning at 7 a.m. The last shuttle will leave campus at 5:45 p.m. to return to Autzen Stadium.
To encourage graduates and their families to enjoy campus, a Grad Fest will include food vendors, dining areas, a photo booth, DuckStore, student performances, activity area for children, relaxation room, craft center and other activities throughout the day. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 13th Avenue and University Street. UO museums and academic buildings on campus will be open for public visits as well.
More information is at: http://studentlife.uoregon.edu/commencement.aspx.
About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is a world-class teaching and research institution and Oregon's flagship public university. The UO is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), an organization made up of the 63 leading public and private research institutions in the United States and Canada. The University of Oregon is one of only two AAU members in the Pacific Northwest.
Contact: Julie Brown, UO communications, 541-346-3185, julbrown@uoregon.edu
Source: Amber Garrison Duncan, UO family programs and commencement, 541-346-1148, amberg@uoregon.edu
Links: UO Commencement information, http://studentlife.uoregon.edu/commencement.aspx; Commencement map, http://infographics.uoregon.edu/campusMaps/Commencement.pdf
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