Vol. 19, No. 26

April 6, 2000

Make plans for 2000 Commencement and Convocations

The University of Delaware will hold its 2000 Commencement and Convocation ceremonies on Saturday, May 27. The 151st Spring Commencement will begin at 9 a.m., rain or shine, in the Delaware Stadium, with the procession of alumni delegates. Neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who has gone from being a Detroit street fighter to becoming the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, will deliver the Commencement address before members of the graduating Class of 2000, their families and friends at the free, public ceremony. Carson, who attributes his escape from the poverty of his youth to the support and love of his mother, is today the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the Black Achievement Award. His autobiography, Gifted Hands, describes his rise from poverty and a broken home to his life today. His second book, Think Big, defines his philosophy of success in life, and his newest book, The Big Picture, offers a view of a professional surgeon’s life, and his own perspectives on society and living a life of faith in a complex world. Carson has edited a medical textbook on craniofacial surgery and has authored or coauthored numerous scientific articles. In 1987 at Hopkins, Carson was on the 70-member medical team that separated 7-month-old twin boys, who were cojoined at the back of the head and shared the major cerebral blood drainage system. The 22-hour procedure is believed to be the first time that hypothermia, the deliberate lowering of the body temperature, was coupled with circulatory bypass and deliberate cardiac arrest to spare brain tissue. The boys returned to Germany where they are living today. After Commencement, Convocation ceremonies for six colleges–as well as departmental convocations for the College of Arts and Science, the College of Health and Nursing Sciences and programs in the College of Human Resources, Education and Public Policy–will be located throughout the campus. Each ceremony will last approximately one hour. No tickets are required. This year’s Convocation celebrations and locations include: • College of Agriculture and Natural Resources 3 p.m., Bob Carpenter Center • College of Arts and Science Department of Anthropology 11:30 a.m., Munroe Hall Departments of Art, Art Conservation, Art History, Music and Theatre 1:30 p.m., Mitchell Hall Department of Biological Sciences 11:30 a.m., Carpenter Sports Building Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry 1:30 p.m., Pearson Hall auditorium Department of Communication 11:30 a.m., Mitchell Hall Department of Computer and Information Sciences 11:30 a.m., Pearson Hall Department of English 1:30 p.m., Room 101 A/B, Clayton Hall Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures 1:30 p.m., Loudis Recital Hall, Amy E. du Pont Music Building Departments of Geography and Geology and the Environmental Science Program 11:30 a.m., Loudis Recital Hall, Amy E. du Pont Music Building Department of History 1:30 a.m., Multipurpose Room, Trabant University Center Department of Mathematical Sciences 11:30 a.m., Room 115, Purnell Hall Department of Philosophy 11:30 a.m., Bayard Sharp Hall Department of Physics 11:30 a.m., Room 100, Sharp Laboratory Department of Political Science and International Relations and Arts and Science Economics 11:30 a.m, Multipurpose Room, Trabant University Center Department of Psychology 11:30 a.m., Delaware Field House Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice 1:30 p.m., Carpenter Sports Building Women’s Studies Interdisciplinary Program 3 p.m., Room 209-211, Trabant University Center Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and Medical Scholars Program 11:30 a.m., Room 125, Clayton Hall Army/Air Force ROTC commissioning ceremony 6 p.m., Room 128, Clayton Hall • College of Business and Economics 11:30 a.m., Bob Carpenter Center • College of Engineering 1:30 p.m., Delaware Field House • College of Health and Nursing Sciences Department of Health and Exercise Sciences 11:30 a.m., Room 101 A/B, Clayton Hall Department of Nutrition and Dietetics 11:30 a.m., Room 128, Clayton Hall • College of Human Resources, Education and Public Policy 1:30 p.m., Bob Carpenter Center School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy Graduate Program noon, Room 130, Smith Hall School of Education Graduate Program 11:30 a.m., Room 120, Smith Hall Individual and Family Studies Graduate Program 12:30 p.m., Room 208, Gore Hall • College of Marine Studies 11:30 a.m., Ewing Room, Perkins Student Center Degree candidates at all ceremonies must wear academic cap and gown, available through the University Bookstore. Orders must be placed on a special form, and purchase fee is required at the time of placing order. Refunds will be made up to May 26. Academic regalia will be ready for distribution on or about May 10.