Summary of ceremony-----------------------------------------
* Ceremony: Saturday, May 25 - 10 a.m. for Schools of Science and Technology and Social Sciences and 3 p.m. for Schools of Arts and Humanities, Business and Economics, and Education. Some 1,938 students are eligible to graduate and 1,400 expected to attend the ceremonies. Approximately 15,000 graduates, family and friends expected at the event on Commencement Lawn.
* Oldest graduate: Suzanne Capella, Petaluma, 68, B.A, Music
* Youngest graduate: Suzann Pershing, Santa Rosa, 14, Summa Cum Laude, B.S.
in Chemistry
* Keynote speaker: Pete Golis, Editorial Director, The Press Democrat,
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ROHNERT PARK ? Sonoma State University holds its 41st annual commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 25 in an event expected to draw 15,000 graduates and their guests to the Rohnert Park campus.
The youngest graduate is 14-year-old Suzann Pershing of Santa Rosa who graduates summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry.
Pershing has been attending SSU since she was ten years old and excelled not only in the sciences but also English, political science and macroeconomics. Her genuine interest in any class she attends has had a positive impact on her classmates, say her professors. The teen has applied to medical school with thoughts of becoming a physician or medical researcher. She has been a volunteer at the American Red Cross and at the SSU Tutorial Center.
The oldest graduate is Suzanne Capella, 68, of Petaluma who earned a B.A in Music. Cappella went to college for a bachelor's degree following her passion for music after retiring from the Department of Motor Vehicles. A violinist who performs with community orchestras, she has high praise for the music faculty and is thrilled the department is developing in the direction it is involving the Green Music Center and Festival.
Cappella said it was a wonderful privilege to work with some of the faculty. "They told me to just keep plugging away at my degree and pretty soon I would have it." They were right, she laughs.
Of the 1,938 students eligible to graduate, some 1,400 are expected to take part in Commencement 2002 on the lawn behind the Student Union and Commons buildings. The average age of all eligible graduates for 2002 Commencement is 29 years. Of the graduating class, 67% are female and 33% are male
The ceremonies are scheduled at 10 a.m. for graduates of the Schools of Science and Technology and the School of Social Sciences. and at 3 p.m. for graduates of the Schools of Arts and Humanities, Business and Economics, and Education.
Keynote speaker is Pete Golis, editorial director for The Press Democrat. whose speech is entitled "Life and Other Unscheduled Events." Golis is a graduate of SSU and in 1990 was named a Distinguished Alumni.
During his time as chairman of the editorial board, the newspaper has championed increased public support for education, affordable housing, open space protection, health care reform and public awareness of Sonoma County's growing ethnic diversity.
Student speakers at the commencement include Jennifer Colley who graduates magna cum laude with degrees in history (with distinction) and Spanish and Amanda Hilty. who has earned a bachelor?s degree with distinction in Liberal Studies from the Hutchins School.
Excellence in Teaching Awards will go to Jean Bee Chan, a professor of mathematics and LeiLani Nishime, an assistant professor of American Multicultural Studies.
Staff Excellence Awards will go to John Champie, a member of the Facilities Services team, and Sue Foley, an administrative analyst and specialist for the Hutchins School of Liberal Studies.
Reservations and tickets are not needed to attend Commencement 2002 and the public is invited to attend. Parking is free in designated areas. For more information, contact Anne Handley, Commencement Coordinator, (707) 664-2018 or e-mail anne.handley@sonoma.edu.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Judge Joseph Rattigan of Santa Rosa, one of the founding fathers of Sonoma State University who helped expedite legislation that created the university in the 1960s, will hand over his granddaughter Molly's diploma to her during the morning ceremony.
