A celebration of graduates old and new

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Bagpipers leading the procession down Locust Walk are a Commencement tradition. Photo by Candace diCarlo

 

The class of 2001 is outtahere.

But first, their parents and the classes of 2000 and back return to campus to give them a grand sendoff.

The Universitys 245th Commencement caps an Alumni Weekend filled with talks, open houses and fun for alumni and friends of Penn. Highlights include the 23rd annual Alumni Run, a 5,000-meter run or walk for those who prefer; two days of Classes Without Quizzes, which showcase what Penn faculty are up to these days; and the annual alumni picnic and parade of classes on Saturday, May 19.

And then theres the pomp and ceremony of Commencement itself, with the graduates marching through campus on their way to Franklin Field, where U.S. Senator John McCain will speak on a snazzy new stage.

Look for selected Alumni Weekend events open to the general campus community in the day-to-day listings on page 6. Alumni and friends can visit www.alumni .upenn.edu/AlumniWeekend for a complete listing of Alumni Weekend events.

Heres the schedule of Commencement exercises and degree ceremonies:

Saturday, May 19

DEGREE CEREMONIES

FELS CENTER OF GOVERNMENT: Ceremony and reception: 5 p.m. at the Fels Center, 3814 Walnut St.

Sunday, May 20

COMMENCEMENT ACTIVITIES

BACCALAUREATE CEREMONY: Speaker: the Rev. Dr. Floyd Flake, pastor, Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church, New York. Two ceremonies: 1:30 p.m. for students whose last names begin with A to K, 3 p.m. for students whose last names begin with L to Z, in Irvine Auditorium, 34th and Spruce streets.

DEGREE CEREMONIES

WHARTON UNDERGRAD/ EVENING: Speaker: Aaron P. Karo (W01). 9 to 10:30 a.m. in Franklin Field, 33rd and Spruce streets. Reception in the Steinberg-Dietrich Hall atrium, 3620 Locust Walk, follows ceremony.

MEDICINE: Speaker: Michael S. Brown (C62,M66), Nobel laureate and director of the Jonsson Center for Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. 10 a.m. at the Academy of Music, Broad and Locust streets. Reception at the Bellevue Park Hyatt Hotel ballroom, Broad and Walnut streets, follows ceremony.

WHARTON GRADUATE: Speaker: Narayana N.R. Murthy, chairman and CEO, Infosys Technologies Limited. 1 to 3:30 p.m. in Franklin Field. Reception in Lehman Brothers Quadrangle and Vance Hall, 37th and Spruce streets, follows ceremony.

ENGINEERING DOCTORAL: Speaker: Former Secretary of the Navy John F. Lehman (Gr74). 4 p.m. in Harrison Auditorium, University of Pennsylvania Museum. Reception at 5 p.m. in the Museums Mosaic Room and adjacent gardens.

WHARTON DOCTORAL: Ceremony and reception at 5:30 p.m. in the Upper Egyptian Gallery and Chinese Rotunda, University of Pennsylvania Museum.

LAW: Speakers: Derek Bok, president emeritus, Harvard University, and Anthony G. Amsterdam, Judge Edward M. Weinfeld Professor of Law, New York University. 6 p.m. at the Academy of Music. Reception from 12:30 to 3 p.m. at the Law School, 34th and Sansom streets.

COLLEGE: Speaker: U.S. Representative Harold E. Ford Jr. (C92), D-Tenn. 7 to 9 p.m. in Franklin Field.

Monday, May 21

COMMENCEMENT ACTIVITIES

245th COMMENCEMENT: Speaker: U.S. Senator John McCain, R-Ariz. Gates open for seating in Franklin Field at 8:30 a.m. Commencement procession begins at 8:45 a.m. in Hamilton Village, 39th and Locust Walk. Ceremony at 10:15 a.m. in Franklin Field.

DEGREE CEREMONIES

BIOMEDICAL GRADUATE STUDIES: Ceremony and reception: Immediately following Commencement in the Biomedical Research Building II/III auditorium and lobby, 420 Curie Blvd.

COLLEGE OF GENERAL STUDIES: Ceremony and reception: Immediately following Commencement in Class of 1952 plaza, 36th St. and Woodland Walk (across from Logan Hall).

DENTAL MEDICINE: Speaker: Linda Niessen, D.M.D., M.P.H., M.P.P. 1 p.m. in Irvine Auditorium. Reception in the Warden Garden, University of Pennsylvania Museum, immediately follows ceremony.

GRADUATE ARTS & SCIENCES: Speaker to be announced. 1 p.m. in Hamilton Village, 39th St. and Locust Walk. Reception in Class of 1920 Commons, 3800 Locust Walk, follows ceremony.

FINE ARTS: Speaker: Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street. 1:15 p.m. on Furness Plaza, 220 S. 34th St. (rain location: Room B-1, Meyerson Hall, 34th and Walnut streets). Picnic lunch at noon on Meyerson Hall Plaza precedes ceremony.

EDUCATION: Speaker: Deirdre Farmby (GrEd97), chief academic officer, School District of Philadelphia. 2 p.m. at First District Plaza, 3801 Market St. Picnic lunch reception immediately following Commencement on Wynn Commons precedes ceremony.

SOCIAL WORK: Speaker: John DiIulio (C80), Frederick Fox Leadership Professor and director, White House Office of Faith-Based Initiatives. 2 p.m. in Harrison Auditorium, University of Pennsylvania Museum. Reception in the Museums Chinese Rotunda follows ceremony.

ANNENBERG: Speaker: Artist Sam Maitin (C51). Ceremony and reception: 2:30 p.m. in Room 110, Annenberg School, 3620 Locust Walk.

VETERINARY MEDICINE: Speaker: Peter Charles Doherty, chairman, department of immunology, St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, Memphis, Tenn. 2:30 p.m. in Zellerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St. Reception at 4 p.m. in the Annenberg Center Plaza (rain location: Annenberg Center lobby).

ENGINEERING UNDERGRAD/MASTERS: Speaker: Oliver C. Boileau Jr. (EE51, GEE53), former president and CEO, Northrop Grumman Corporation. 3 p.m. in Franklin Field. Reception immediately following Commencement at Lott Tennis Courts, 33rd St. below Walnut, precedes ceremony.

NURSING: Speaker: Claire M. Fagin, Leadership Professor Emerita and dean emerita, School of Nursing. 7 p.m. at First District Plaza. Reception immediately following Commencement at the Nursing Education Building plaza, 420 Guardian Drive (rain location: Nursing Education Building street-level atrium).