Nearly 850 students will be honored at the University of Washington, Tacomas 15th commencement exercises at 11 a.m. Friday, June 10 in the Northwest Concert Center at the Western Washington Fairground in Puyallup.
Former Washington governor Gary Locke, the first Chinese-American governor in U.S. history, will deliver the commencement address. UW President Mark Emmert will preside over the ceremony with Patricia Spakes, new chancellor of UW Tacoma. This is the first commencement ceremony for both Spakes and Emmert.
The 2005 student speaker will be Kim Anderson, a transfer student from Pierce College. Anderson, a single mother of four, hopes to pursue a masters degree and eventually become a middle-school counselor or rehabilitation counselor. Her twin sons will graduate from Steilacoom High School the day after UWT commencement exercises. She is earning a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.
The 2005 Chancellors Medal winner is Chad Japhet, a transfer student from South Puget Sound Community College. Japhet, the first member of his family to attend college, has achieved success at UWT through curiosity, dedication and hard work. Faculty members say he is a mentor for other students and a positive addition to any class. He is graduating Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.
UWT will grant bachelors and masters degrees in Business Administration, Computing and Software Systems, Education, Environmental Science, Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, Nursing, Social Work and Urban Studies.
Commencement is being held at the Western Washington Fairground this year due to scheduling conflicts at the Tacoma Dome. Seating is ample, so tickets are not required. For more information on Commencement, visit the UW Tacoma Commencement Web site or contact Steve Smith at (253) 692-4404.
