FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 10, 2003
COLLEGE PARK, Md. " The hard work is nearly over. Long years of going to classes, completing homework, taking tests finally at an end. But there's one more thing to do before Maryland's last class of 2003 moves on in new directions and towards new heights. They'll get to walk down the aisle at Comcast Center before family and friends to show off their accomplishments and relish in their graduation.
The main commencement ceremony at the University of Maryland is planned for Saturday evening, December 20 at the Comcast Center. University President C.D. "Dan" Mote Jr. calls this "a very special event for our graduates and their families." Individual schools and departments will hold their own ceremonies Sunday, December 21 beginning at 1 p.m. An online schedule of these ceremonies is available at http://www.commencement.umd.edu/ceremonies.html.
The traditional procession of students and faculty during the campus-wide ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. Guests are encouraged to arrive at least 30 minutes early to observe the procession.
2861 students are applicants for degrees, including 1,822 undergraduates, 878 master's degree candidates and 161 Ph.D.s. Since August of 2003, the most popular undergraduate majors are Criminal Justice, Computer Science and Psychology. The M.B.A. topped the most popular master's degree over that time, while Electrical Engineering was the most popular Ph.D. degree, followed by Music.
Maryland alum and Google co-founder Sergey Brin will be the featured speaker.
University President C.D. "Dan" Mote Jr. calls Brin "extraordinarily creative." "He's an icon of the brilliant young thinkers and entrepreneurs in the computer age who have had enormous impact on the country and the world," says Mote. Brin is expected to talk about his experience as an entrepreneur as well as trends in technology.
Robyn Ellyn Sanderson will be the student commencement speaker. Graduating with a double major in physics and astronomy, she wants to become a university physics professor. Her work as a teacher's assistant on campus helped cement that goal. Physics professor Thomas Cohen says Sanderson was able to more than hold her own in his class despite a preponderance of men. Calling her "a refreshing exception," Cohen adds, "Robyn functioned as the intellectual leader in class discussion(s)."
Sanderson's love of science has some tough competition, however. She also has a passion for music. Besides being a member of Maryland's prestigious Chamber Singers, she was the long-time music director for a student singing group, "Voices of Truth" and also sings in a Virginia choral group.
Sanderson begins her work towards a doctorate next fall and looks forward to the challenge. "I love being around an academic environment. I think that working at a university would be good for me," she says.
The Class of 2003 will donate an official University of Maryland Seal as its special gift to the university. It will hang at the new Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center now under construction near Byrd Stadium.
Free parking will be available on campus to all Saturday night and Sunday. There will be free shuttle bus service from the College Park Metro stop to the Comcast Center Saturday night and Sunday, and from the parking lots to all graduation sites across campus throughout the day on Sunday. For more information, check the UM Shuttle web page at http://www.inform.umd.edu/shuttle/.
Commencement ceremonies will be webcast. Check for the link at www.umd.edu on December 20. UMTV also plans to rebroadcast the event. Check http://www.umtv.umd.edu for times.
For the latest on the December 20 and 21 commencement ceremonies at the University of Maryland, visit http://www.urhome.umd.edu/commencement/.
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