Cornell University front page Cornell News Service
May 16, 2005
Cornell celebrates 137th Commencement May 29 with address by President Jeffrey Lehman
Senior Convocation ceremony May 28 features retired Gen. Wesley Clark

ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell University will celebrate its 137th Commencement on Sunday, May 29, with approximately 5,600 graduates receiving degrees at a ceremony beginning at 11 a.m. in Schoellkopf Stadium. President Jeffrey S. Lehman, Cornell's first alumnus president (Class of 1977), will present his commencement address and confer degrees as he presides over his second commencement ceremony.

The commencement ceremony caps two days of celebratory events at Cornell.

On Saturday, May 28, retired U.S. Gen. Wesley Clark will present the Senior Convocation Address to graduates, their families and guests at noon in Barton Hall. Lehman and Senior Class President Stephen P. Blake also will speak.

Clark, a decorated Vietnam War combat veteran, is a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander and was a presidential candidate in the 2004 Democratic Party primary.

Other commencement weekend events include:

Saturday, May 28:

  • Phi Beta Kappa Induction: New members of the Cornell chapter will be inducted at 10:30 a.m. in G-1 Uris Hall.
  • ROTC Commissioning: Military commissioning ceremonies will be held at several times and locations: Air Force commissioning will be at 8 a.m. in the Beck Center Auditorium in Statler Hall; Army commissioning will be at 9 a.m. in Anabel Taylor Hall; and Navy commissioning will be held at 10 a.m. in the Statler Auditorium.
  • Senior Convocation: Noon in Barton Hall.
  • DVM Hooding Ceremony: New doctors of veterinary medicine will take the Veterinarian's Oath and receive their hoods at a 2 p.m. ceremony in the Friedman Wrestling Center.
  • President/Trustees Parent Reception: Lehman and the Cornell University Board of Trustees will host a reception for students, their families and guests from 2:30 to 4 p.m. on the Arts Quad.
  • Cornell University Wind Ensemble Concert: Under the direction of Cynthia Johnston Turner, the Wind Ensemble will perform its Commencement concert on the Arts Quad from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
  • Ph.D. Recognition Ceremony: This special recognition event for Ph.D. and D.M.A. candidates will be held at 5 p.m. in Barton Hall. A reception will follow. Families, friends and faculty members are invited to attend.
  • Senior Week Concert: The Cornell University Glee Club and the Cornell University Chorus will present their annual concert at 8 p.m. in Sage Chapel. Tickets will be sold at the Willard Straight box office until May 27.

    • Sunday, May 29:

  • University Baccalaureate Service: Dr. Uma Saini of Johns Hopkins University, director of the Language Teaching Center and adviser to the Orthodox Hindu student organization, will present the address at this interfaith service honoring graduating students. The address will take place at 8:15 a.m. in Statler Auditorium. Call Cornell United Religious Work at 255-4214 for tickets, which are required for this event.
  • Procession: The academic procession assembles on the Arts Quad at 9:15 a.m. and will arrive at Schoellkopf Stadium at 10 a.m.
  • Commencement Ceremony: The ceremony will be held from 11 a.m. to noon.
  • College and Social Ceremonies: Ceremonies and receptions for individual colleges and schools will be held at various locations across campus from noon to 3 p.m. A listing will be available in the commencement program that will be handed out at commencement.

    • In the event that severe weather is expected, the May 29 ceremony in Schoellkopf Stadium will be delayed -- or two abbreviated indoor ceremonies will be held in Barton Hall. If Commencement is held indoors, there will be two programs:

    At 10:30 a.m., degrees will be conferred on graduates from the Colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences and of Arts and Sciences, Johnson Graduate School of Management, College of Veterinary Medicine and the Law School.

    At 1 p.m., degrees will be conferred on graduates from the Colleges of Architecture, Art and Planning and of Engineering; Graduate School; School of Hotel Administration; College of Human Ecology and the School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

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    Cornell News Service:
    David Brand, Director
    Phone: (607) 255-3651
    E-mail: deb27@cornell.edu
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    Related Information:
    Cornell Commencement Page

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    Cornell News Service
    Commencement site

    Jeffrey Lehman
    Cornell President
    Jeffrey Sean Lehman

    Credit: Robert Barker/
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