EIU Media Relations

Approximately 1,500 to Receive Degrees from EIU

Approximately 1,500 students are eligible to graduate from Eastern Illinois University this spring, and the majority of them plan to participate in formal commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 5.

Graduation ceremonies will take place at 9 a.m., noon, 3 and 6 p.m. in Lantz Arena. Guest tickets are required for admission into the ceremonies.

Students from the College of Sciences will march in the morning ceremony; the College of Arts and Humanities and the School of Continuing Education (Bachelor of Arts in General Studies Program) at noon; the College of Education and Professional Studies at 3 p.m.; and the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences at 6.

Graduate students will walk with their respective colleges.

Retiring EIU President Louis V. Hencken -- an EIU alum who went on to serve his alma mater for more than 40 years -- will present the Charge to the Class at each ceremony. Assegedetch Haile Mariam, chair, EIU Faculty Senate, and Sean Anderson, student body president from Arlington Heights , will also address graduates and their guests.

Representing Eastern's Board of Trustees will be Roger L. Kratochvil of Mt. Olive (9 a.m.), Don Yost of Charleston (noon and 3 p.m.), and Julie Nimmons of Litchfield (6 p.m.).

At noon, Roger Beck, professor of history at Eastern, will formally receive a Distinguished Faculty Award. This award is presented annually to a full-time faculty member who has excelled in teaching, professional research/creative activity and service.

At each ceremony, an honored faculty member carries the university mace as he/she leads the processional. This year's commencement marshals are:

• Robert B. Jorstad, professor of geology/geography, representing the College of Sciences during the morning ceremony. Jorstad has been a member of Eastern's faculty since 1982.
• Christine Helsel, professor of communication studies, representing the College of Arts and Humanities during the noon ceremony. Helsel has been a member of Eastern's faculty since 1985.
• Robert Doyle, associate professor of physical education, representing the College of Education and Professional Studies during the 3 p.m. ceremony. Doyle has been a member of Eastern's faculty since 1980.
• Mahyar Izadi, professor, School of Technology, representing the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences during the 6 p.m. ceremony. Izadi has been a member of Eastern's faculty since 1984.

Additional faculty members are given the honor of carrying their respective college's banner. This year's faculty marshals are Mukti Upadhyay (economics, Graduate School) and Ellen A. Keiter (chemistry), representing the College of Sciences, 9 a.m.; Melanie B. Mills (communication studies, Graduate School) and Karen Taylor (foreign languages), representing the College of Arts and Humanities, and John Stimac (geology/geography), representing the School of Continuing Education, noon; Jill Owen (physical education, Graduate School) and Rebecca Cook (special education), representing the College of Education and Professional Studies, 3 p.m.; and Frances L. Murphy (Graduate School) and Michelle Meadows (both family and consumer sciences), representing the Lumpkin College of Business and Applied Sciences, 6 p.m.

Honorary degrees also will be formally presented to Sue C. Payton, secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, research and development, and Jan Tarble, whose generosity continues to sustain the Tarble family's efforts to support and encourage the arts at Eastern and the Tarble Arts Center.