NEWS RELEASE: UA 118th COMMENCEMENT MAY 16, 1998:
NASA ADMINISTRATOR, DANIEL S. GOLDIN AND UA ALUMNUS, GREG KINNEAR TO SPEAK (From Julieta Gonz·lez, 520-621-1877; [email protected]) (Sent May 11, 1998)
Students at The University of Arizona in Tucson who have completed graduation requirements this spring will receive degrees during two separate ceremonies Saturday, May 16, at McKale Center. UA President Peter Likins will confer degrees upon approximately 3,672 undergraduates, 760 masters, 155 doctoral and 267 professionals (College of Law and College of Medicine).
The first ceremony begins at 9 a.m. with the procession of the candidates to McKale Center. The afternoon session begins at 1 p.m. Colleges in the morning ceremony include Architecture, Business and Public Administration, Education, Engineering and Mines, Humanities, Law, Nursing and Science. The afternoon ceremony includes the colleges of Agriculture, Fine Arts, Medicine, Pharmacy, Social and Behavioral Sciences and the School of Health-Related Professions.
Daniel S. Goldin, who will be presented by Eugene Levy, dean of the College of Science, for the honorary degree of doctor of science, will address the candidates during the morning ceremony. Goldin began his career as a research scientist as NASA's Lewis Research Center in Cleveland in 1962. He later joined the TRW Space and Technology Group in California where he proved to be a successful manager in developing advanced spacecraft technologies and space instruments. Subsequently he was appointed vice president and general manager of the group. Under his leadership TRW received several national awards for quality and efficiency. In 1992 Goldin became NASA's administrator, where he earned a reputation as an agent of change in revitalizing the space agency. Earlier this year, Goldin received the highest honor in his field when he was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
Greg Kinnear, a 1986 graduate of the UA, has established himself successfully as a respected member of Hollywood's acting community with his heartfelt performance as Jack Nicholson's unfortunate neighbor, Simon, in James L. Brooks' Academy Award-nominated film, "As Good As It Gets." The portrayal earned Kinnear critical raves, and resulted in his being named Best Supporting Actor by the National Board of Review and receiving Best Supporting Actor nominations from The Golden Globes, The Screen Actors Guild and the Academy Awards. Kinnear made his feature film debut in the Sydney Pollack directed remake, "Sabrina," in which he co-starred with Harrison Ford and Julia Ormond. Prior to his film career, Kinnear was the executive producer and host of his own NBC late night show, "Later With Greg Kinnear, and host of E! Entertainment Television's Emmy Award-winning show "Talk Soup." Kinnear will be available in the UA Library between 11:30 a.m. and noon on Saturday, May 16, for m! edia interviews. Please contact Julieta Gonz·lez at 621-1877 to make arrangements.
Photographer's note: Platforms will be located on the floor of McKale to facilitate video and still photographers. You may photograph from anywhere inside McKale until the ceremonies begin. Photographers shall then clear the floor aisles and use the platforms.
Honorary degrees and awards:
Edith Sayre Auslander, Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws: A native of Tucson, Auslander earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees from the UA. From 1975 to 1984 she taught in the UA department of journalism. She resigned her faculty position in 1984 upon her appointment to the Arizona Board of Regents where she served as president of the board from 1989 to 1990. Presently, she is the director of human resources for TNI Partners in Tucson and continues her active involvement with the UA through the Hispanic Alumni Club and numerous advisory board memberships.
Esther Capin, Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws: Capin earned both a bachelor's and a master's degree from the UA. She worked for many years as a mental health counselor for the Santa Cruz Family Guidance Center, and has been widely recognized for her extensive involvement in community and state affairs. She served from 1978 until 1992 as a member of the Arizona Board of Regents, including a term as president. Currently, she serves on the advisory boards of the UA women's studies department and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Phyllis E. Ethridge, Honorary Degree of Science: Ethridge earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing from the UA. From 1971 to 1994 she served as vice president for Patient Health Services at St. Mary's Hospital in Tucson and as vice president for Community Health Services for the Carondelet Health Corporation. She also created the world's first nursing health care maintenance organization. Ethridge has served as an adjunct faculty member at the UA College of Nursing for more than 20 years and as a member of its advisory board.
Daniel S. Goldin, Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science (see page one).
Fr. Andrew M. Greeley, S.J., Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws: As priest, novelist and sociologist, Greeley has is a faculty member of both the UA and the University of Chicago. He has published 60 books of non-fiction, 35 novels, and more than 150 scholarly papers. His works on ethnicity and catholic schools appears in leading journals in sociology and social science. Greeley has come to be recognized as one of the foremost sociologist of religion. He joined the UA in 1979, and has taught at both the undergraduate and graduate levels without monetary compensation.
James E. Rogers, Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws: Rogers earned both his undergraduate degree and law degree from the UA. After several years of active law practice in Nevada, Rogers began to devote increasing portions of his time to the development of radio and television stations in the West through his Sunbelt Communications Company. His Sunbelt Education Fund supports development efforts at numerous colleges and universities across the West, including the UA.
Awards: Merril P. Freeman Medals: Under provisions of the will of the late Merrill P. Freeman, two medals have been awarded annually since 1916 to two selected seniors on the basis of "outstanding qualities of manhood or womanhood and manifestations of character and qualities of leadership. This year's winners are Heather L. Branstetter, graduating with a B. S. In Physiological Science and Parminder S. Suchedev, of Phoenix, Ariz. Who is graduating with a double major in Biochemistry and in Molecular and Cellular Biology.
Robie Gold Medals: The Robie Gold medal was established by two alumni of the UA, Wendell T. Robbie, ('17) and Inez Benzie Robie, ('16). The medals are awarded to graduating seniors who have demonstrated "personal integrity, initiative, cooperation, enthusiasm, humility, well-rounded interests, active participation in student affairs, service to the University, willingness to give more than is required, and love of God and Country." The 1998 winners are Cac Minh Dao, who escaped from Viet Nam, and who will received his B.S. degree in Civil Engineering and Brianna Michelle Paul, who will graduate with a double major in psychology and biochemistry.
Robert Logan Nugent Awards: The Nugent Awards were established by the Arizona Alumni Association in honor of the late Robert L. Nugent who served the UA with great distinction from 1932 to 1963 as a professor, dean and executive vice president. The awards are presented to a senior man and woman "who have demonstrated a high degree of citizenship and leadership that imply future promise and exemplify the high ideals of Dr. Nugent." Ingrid M. Burger of Tempe, Ariz. who is graduating with a B. S. In molecular and cellular biology and Samuel Yao-Ming Ng, a Flynn Scholar from Phoenix, Arizona who is graduating with a double major in molecular and cellular biology and English are this year's winners.
The Alumni Achievement Award will be presented to UA senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, Paul S. Sypherd. He received his BA from Arizona State University in 1959, earned a master's degree in microbiology from the UA in 1960 and his doctorate from Yale University in 1963. Following appointments as dean of graduate studies and vice chancellor for research at the University of California in Irvine, Sypherd returned to the UA in 1993 where he began his role as provost. In this role, he has been responsible for leading the efforts to improve undergraduate education by increased access to faculty members, to strengthen the general education curriculum and to provide better academic and career counseling.
Additionally, there many other human interest student-stories. Please contact Julieta Gonzalez in News Services for a copy of the list graduating students you may want to profile.
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