EIU Media Relations

Fall 2003 Commencement To Take Place Saturday at EIU

More than 950 students are expected to graduate from Eastern Illinois University this fall, and more than 600 of those will participate in formal commencement ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 13.

Those planning to participate in ceremonies also include some of the 630 students who officially graduated at the end of the summer term in August.

Ceremonies will take place at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Guest tickets are required for admission.

Graduates from the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences and the College of Arts and Humanities will march in the morning ceremony, while graduates from the College of Education and Professional Studies, the College of Sciences and the School of Continuing Education (Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts Degree) will march in the afternoon.

Addressing graduates will be Student Body President Caleb Judy of Potomac and Faculty Senate Chairperson David A. Carpenter.

Representing Eastern's Board of Trustees will be Bill Davidson, the university's student trustee from McHenry.

Traditionally, a commencement marshal leads the commencement procession while carrying the university mace, a symbol of honor accorded a faculty member. The commencement marshal for the 10 a.m. ceremony will be Robert U. Fischer, professor of biological sciences, who will represent the Graduate School. Fischer has been a member of Eastern's faculty since 1994.

Representing the School of Continuing Education at 2 p.m. will be Eugene Harrison, associate professor of art. Harrison has been a member of Eastern's faculty since 1989.

A tradition which began one year ago allows faculty members the honor of carrying the college banner for his/her college during the procession. Honorees are chosen by their respective colleges.

This year's faculty marshals for the morning ceremony are Roger Luft, professor in the School of Technology, representing the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences; Melanie T. Burns, assistant professor in the School of Family and Consumer Sciences, representing the Graduate School and the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences; Mary Kelly-Durkin, professor of journalism, representing the College of Arts and Humanities; and Mark Voss-Hubbard, assistant professor of history, representing the Graduate School and the College of Arts and Humanities.

This year's faculty marshals for the afternoon ceremony are French Fraker, professor of counseling and student development, representing the College of Education and Professional Studies; Mary Ellen Varble, professor of early childhood, elementary and middle level education, representing the Graduate School and the College of Education and Professional Studies; Ron Wohlstein, professor of sociology and anthropology, representing the College of Sciences; Eric Hake, associate professor of economics, representing the Graduate School and the College of Sciences; and Allen Davis, professor of mathematics, representing the School of Continuing Education.