Aurora University to Graduate 1,150 Students Saturday, May 5

AURORA, Ill, May 1 , 2007- Aurora University will hold the 114th annual commencement exercises on Saturday, May 5, in a tent on the campus quadrangle at 347 S. Gladstone Ave. in Aurora. Approximately 1,150 students are candidates for graduation. They include about 690 graduate students who will receive degrees at 10 a.m. and about 470 undergraduate students who will receive degrees at 2:30 p.m.

The morning ceremony will begin with the First Class Brass performing a prelude of selections and "Pomp and Circumstance" for the academic processional.

Michael Moser, vice president for student life, will give the invocation. Greetings will be brought by AU President Rebecca L. Sherrick, and Calvin R. Myers of Aurora, AU BA '64, and chair of the Board of Trustees. Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke will receive an honorary Doctor of Letters degree. Ronald Kinnamon, GWC MS '60, a member of the Board of Trustees, will present the citation. President Sherrick will confer Burke's degree. President Sherrick will then confer the Degree of Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Recreation administration, Master of Social Work, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, Master of Arts in Reading Instruction, and Doctor in Education. Following conferral of degrees, President Sherrick will give her charge to the graduates. Members of the University Chorale under director Christine Flasch will lead singing of the alma mater, "Aurora." Following the benediction by Moser, graduates and faculty will recess to"Trumpet Voluntary" by the First Class Brass. A reception on the quadrangle for graduates, faculty, staff, and guests will close the event.

The afternoon ceremony will begin with the First Class Brass performing a prelude of selections and "Pomp and Circumstance" for the academic processional.

Martin Forward, professor of religion and executive director of the Wackerlin Center for Faith and Action, will give the invocation. Greetings will be brought by AU President Rebecca L. Sherrick, and Calvin R. Myers of Aurora, AU BA '64, and chair of the Board of Trustees. Perspectives on the university will be given by Shalisse Ann Mathieu of South Elgin, Ill., a senior history and secondary education major. Following "America the Beautiful" by the University Chorale, Provost Andrew P. Manion will present the Marcus and Mark H. Trumbo Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Tony Olejnik Leadership Service Award.

Joe Dunham of Aurora, AU professor of philosophy and senior fellow of the Wackerlin Center, will receive an honorary Doctor of Letters degree. Richard F. Westphal, Professor of English and Chair of Fine Arts, will present the citation. President Sherrick will confer Dunham's degree. President Sherrick will then confer the degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and Bachelor of SocialWork.

Following awarding of degrees, President Sherrick will give her charge to the graduates. Members of the University Chorale under director Christine Flasch will lead singing of the alma mater, "Aurora." After a benediction by Forward, graduates and faculty will recess to"Trumpet Voluntary" by the First Class Brass. A reception on the quadrangle for graduates, faculty, staff, and guests will close the event.

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