News from SUNY Cortland

For more information contact: Jennifer Wilson, 607-753-2232

SUNY Cortland To Hold Undergraduate Commencement Ceremonies On May 17

CORTLAND, NY (05/07/2008; 1120)(readMedia)-- SUNY Cortland will conduct two undergraduate Commencement ceremonies — one at 9:30 a.m. and the other at 2:30 p.m. — on Saturday, May 17, in the Bessie L. Park Class of 1901 Physical Education and Recreation Center Alumni Arena.

An estimated 1,325 seniors will receive baccalaureate degrees during Commencement exercises, which will be presided over by SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum.

Thomas Goodale ’61, a SUNY Cortland Distinguished Alumnus and renowned expert in the field of recreation and leisure studies, will address the graduates at both ceremonies. The State University of New York will bestow upon Goodale an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters during Commencement. Each ceremony begins with an academic procession. A prelude, processional and recessional music will be provided by the Cortland Brass Ensemble.

SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum will deliver the charge to graduates.

During the morning ceremony, Arden Zipp, distinguished teaching professor emeritus of chemistry, will carry the mace, a ceremonial staff used as a symbol of institutional authority at the College’s Commencement and academic convocations. Four multi-colored gonfalons, representing the All College, the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education and the School of Professional Studies, will be carried, respectively, by Robert Rhodes, professor emeritus of Anglo-Irish literature; Barry Batzing, professor of biological sciences; Emilie Kudela, associate professor of childhood/early childhood education; and Joy Hendrick, professor of kinesiology.

Senior musical theatre major Audra Rizzo of Massapequa, N.Y., will sing the national anthem and senior musical theatre major Jennifer Vadella of Hawthorne, N.Y., will sing the Alma Mater.

Richard Wheeler, professor and chair of physics, will carry the mace during the afternoon Commencement. The gonfaloniers will be: Dale Anderson, lecturer of recreation and leisure studies; Sanford Gutman, professor of history; Sheila Cohen, associate professor of literacy; and K. Michael Kniffen, associate professor of physical education.

The national anthem and Alma Mater will be sung by senior musical theatre major Anita Christine Peña of Madison, Wis.

President Bitterbaum will welcome the graduates at both ceremonies. Elizabeth Davis-Russell, provost and vice president for academic affairs, will recognize the honor graduates. SUNY Cortland Student Government Association President Aaron Marsh, a junior mathematics education major from Bayshore, N.Y., will deliver remarks. Joining President Bitterbaum in conferring the degrees will be Mark Prus, dean of arts and sciences; Gerald Porter, dean of education; and Roy H. Olsson Jr., dean of professional studies.

A total of 93 students are scheduled to graduate summa cum laude — the highest academic honor — with grade point averages of 3.75 and above on a scale of 4.00.

The largest number of majors set to graduate in each of the three schools are: 179 physical education majors in the School of Professional Studies, 123 childhood education majors in the School of Education, and 84 communication studies majors in the School of Arts and Sciences.

Gordon Valentine ’68, SUNY Cortland Alumni Association president, will officially welcome the graduates into the ranks of the College’s 58,000 alumni.

The Undergraduate Commencement Committee is co-chaired by Virginia B. Levine, executive assistant to the president, and Marley Sweet Barduhn ’76, associate dean of the School of Education.

Other committee members include: Seth Asumah, professor of political science; Darci Bacigalupi, special events coordinator; Laurie Barton, assistant to the president; Terence Cahill, College Store director; Mark DePaull, University Police assistant chief; Ralph Dudgeon, professor of music; Mariah Gerty, Student Government Association representative; David Horrocks, assistant director of grounds and building services; Ji-Ryun Kim, assistant professor of foundations and social advocacy; Emilie Kudela, associate professor of childhood/early childhood education; Kathleen Lawrence, associate professor of communication studies; Michael MacLean, maintenance supervisor; Eric Malmberg, professor of physical education; Megan Munson, catering manager; Mary Murphy, University Police lieutenant; Charlotte Plunkett, supervising janitor; Tracy Rammacher, publications and electronic media director; Susan Rayl, assistant professor of exercise science and sport studies; Hailey Ruoff ’98, media operations coordinator; Christine Schacht, senior class representative; Timothy Slack, director of physical plant; and George VerDow, director of classroom media services.

This year, both undergraduate Commencement ceremonies will be broadcast live on the Time Warner Cable access Channel 17 to viewers in the City of Cortland vicinity. The ceremonies can also be viewed on campus in any classroom equipped with a television.

Under a tradition inaugurated at the 2004 ceremony by President Bitterbaum, undergraduates may honor a special person who has helped achieve their academic pursuit or goals. The respective name of the honoree will be read along with each graduate.

Graduating seniors wishing to acknowledge their multicultural heritage will also participate in a Kente Graduation Ceremony at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 16, in the Corey Union Function Room. The traditional, woven multicolored kente cloth of Ghana, originally worn by royalty, has become an important symbol for African Americans to highlight their connection to the African continent.

-30-