WSU Spokane News

SPOKANE, Wash.—Approximately 430 students from Washington State University Spokane will be the first in the Spokane area to celebrate their successful degree completion during the 2010 Commencement celebration at 2 p.m. Friday, May 7. Years of dedication, sacrifice and commitment will be reflected upon as the 20th class of WSU Spokane graduates is honored with baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees in 20 different degree categories.

Chancellor Brian Pitcher will preside over the formal commencement ceremony beginning at 2 p.m. in the INB Performing Arts Center at 334 W Spokane Falls Blvd. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. All family, friends and faculty are invited to attend. Tickets are not required for this event.

There to help launch the class of 2010 into the world will be the Honorable Mayor Mary B. Verner of the City of Spokane. She will pay tribute to graduates’ accomplishments and challenge them to future success as she delivers the 20th commencement address.

Mayor Verner has a broad range of experience in business, law, planning, policy development, program design, and management. She holds a law degree from Gonzaga University, a master's in environmental studies from Yale University, and a bachelor's from Davidson College. Before being elected to Spokane's top post, Mayor Verner served on the Spokane City Council for four years and served as executive director of the Upper Columbia United Tribes, which serves the five federally recognized Indian Tribes with reservations in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho.

Student reflections will be shared by Emily Perry of Grandview, Wash., who will receive a Master of Arts in speech and hearing sciences. Perry, nominated by her peers and faculty to serve as the student speaker, is applauded by her nominators for her dedication and inspiration to others.

Perry will encourage each member of the class of 2010 to take their experiences and turn them into a potential opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. In fact, she will share her own personal story of turning tragedy to hope as she discusses how her research (on her own impaired facial muscles) has made a personal impact and will eventually help others who suffer from facial nerve damage.

WSU Spokane and its 20th class of graduates in 2010 have done much to benefit the Inland Northwest. Join us in celebration as we look forward to even more contributions as our graduates go forth and make a difference in the future.

Notes to photographers and assignment editors:
Contact Barb Chamberlain, 509-358-7527, 509-869-2949 (cell), or chamberlain@wsu.edu, to arrange interviews with student and faculty participants at the event between 1 and 2 p.m.

Follow us on Twitter @WSUSpokane or join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WSUSpokane.  We will be posting timely messages throughout the day, and commencement photos will be posted the week of May 10.

• 9 a.m. : ASWSU Spokane Commencement Breakfast and Awards Ceremony—visual/audio opportunities.
• 1-1:30 p.m.: Students are arriving for robing and you may be able to pick up interviews on the fly.
• 1:30 -4 p.m.: Students are not available for interviews; robing and ceremony in progress.
• 1:55 p.m.: Students and Faculty wearing full regalia will march from the second floor of the Spokane Convention Center down the center stair cases and across the breezeway to the INB Performing Arts Center—this will be a great visual opportunity as they process to the stage.
• Approximately 4 p.m.: Students will exit the building and will be greeted by Butch—great photo opportunities as Butch greets students and their families.

About Washington State University Spokane
WSU Spokane is the urban campus of Washington State University, a land-grant research university founded in 1890. The campus features advanced studies and research in health sciences and health professions, the design disciplines, education, social and policy sciences, and science and technology. Washington State University is one of just 95 public and private research universities with very high research activity, according to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classifications. In addition, U.S. News & World Report ranks WSU as one of the top public research universities in the nation.

Related Links:
Emily Perry’s Research Study:  http://spokane.wsu.edu/aboutWSUSpokane/News_Events/News/Bulletins/2010/mar17.html#FacialRehabilitation

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