Release Date: May 12, 2003 This content is archived.
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Some 6,800 students were candidates to receive degrees during the University at Buffalo's 157th general commencement ceremony and 13 other ceremonies set for May 9-11 and May 23.
State University of New York Chancellor Robert L. King spoke at the general commencement ceremony for students in the College of Arts and Sciences held May 11 in Alumni Arena on the UB North (Amherst) Campus.
UB's highest award, the Chancellor Charles P. Norton Medal, was presented at the general commencement ceremony to UB President William R. Greiner.
John Walsh, UB alumnus and creator and host of Fox's "America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back" television show, was scheduled to receive an honorary degree from the State University of New York at the general commencement. However, because of an injury suffered a few days earlier during the filming of his show, Walsh was unable to accept the degree in person and will receive it at a future date.
Receiving a SUNY honorary doctor of science degree at commencement ceremonies for the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences on May 10 was Joseph P. Allen, pioneering physicist and astronaut. Elizabeth P. Olmsted Ross, path-breaking ophthalmologist, clinician and inventor, will receive a SUNY honorary doctor of science degree at the commencement of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at 2 p.m. May 23 in the UB Center for the Arts. Rep. Louise M. Slaughter will speak at the medical school ceremonies.
Earlier this spring, UB presented a fourth SUNY honorary degree - a doctor of humane letters degree - to Brad Grey, '79, a top producer in the entertainment industry. Chairman of Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, Grey received the degree during a visit to UB in honor of his contributions and achievement in the field of entertainment business, and his worldwide industry renown.
In addition to King, Greiner spoke at the general commencement ceremony, as did graduating senior Jason P. Litwak.
Thirty-six students were recognized during the general commencement.
Recipients of the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence were Geoffrey S. Andrews, Rebecca L. Ashare, Sara M. Center, Pamela A. Cocol, Jennifer E. Drake, Hedva Krauze, Crystal R. Oliver and Danielle L. Sheather.
Jenelle A. Callender received the Division of Student Affairs Senior Leadership Award.
Twenty-eight graduates received the College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Outstanding Senior Awards. The students and their departments of study are Alva B. McFarland, African American studies; Taylor E. Chamberlain, American studies; Robert Roeder, anthropology; Clifford L. Borress, art; Julia E. Roberts, art history; Stefanie A. Miller, biological sciences; Brooks R. Bohall, chemistry.
Also, Marissa T. Valetich, classics; Melissa S. Fuerch, communicative disorders and sciences; Cheekoon Tan, economics; Sara M. Center, English; William E. Gunter, Jr., geography; Laura E. Gilcrist, geology; Matthew J. Schrantz, history.
Also, Catherine M. Hummel, interdisciplinary degree programs; Mark P. Josef, linguistics; Steven A. Kieffer, mathematics; Jennifer S. Roth, media study; Satoshi Takagi, music; Darla S. Martin-Gorski, philosophy; Jeffrey A. Delmerico, physics.
Also, Elizabeth Fox-Solomon, political science; Rebecca L. Ashare, psychology; Molly J. Giblin, romance languages and literatures; Janelle M. Fleck, sociology; Breckglyn R. Miller, special major; Chelsea M. Warren, theatre and dance, and Lindsey M. Bonadonna, women's studies.
Vocalist at the general commencement was Kimberly S. Grant.
The speakers at UB's 12 other commencement ceremonies held May 9-11 were:
o Graduate School of Education, May 9, Johanna Duncan-Poiter, deputy commissioner in the Office of Higher Education in the Office of Professions in the New York State Department of Education.
o Graduate School, May 9, Uday P. Sukhatme, dean of the UB College of Arts and Sciences.
o School of Informatics, May 10, W. David Penniman, dean of the school.
o School of Social Work, May 10, Faith L. Hoffman, MSW '93, women veterans' program manager and domestic violence program coordinator at the Buffalo VA Medical Center.
o School of Nursing, May 10, Colleen Murphy Miller, DNS '97, MS '91, nurse practitioner in the Department of Neurology and the William C. Baird Multiple Sclerosis Research Center at the Kaleida Health's Buffalo General Hospital.
o School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, May 10, Mark H. Karwan, dean of the school.
o Law School, May 10, the Hon. Sonia Sotomayor, judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
o School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, May 10, Wayne K. Anderson, dean of the school.
o School of Architecture and Planning, May 10, Brian Carter, dean of the school.
o School of Management, May 10, John M. Thomas, dean of the school.
o School of Public Health and Health Professions, May 10, State Sen. Mary Lou Rath.
o School of Dental Medicine, May 11, William R. Calnon, president of the New York State Dental Association.
