Commencement 2009
Making Commencement Count
On Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14, CHASS graduates participated in UCR's 55th Commencement Ceremonies. The final realization of the preparation that began months ago, with staff members setting up for the ceremonies as early as 5 a.m., added to the anticipation and excitement of this year's commencement. Under an overcast sky, the weekend was filled with firsts and lasts, evoking a wide range of emotions from graduating seniors and their parents, family, and friends.
As CHASS graduates face one of the most challenging job markets in recent history, students heard both encouraging and inspiring words from a former UCR chancellor, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, and an attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). See more information about CHASS Commencement speakers below.
While Commencement 2009 has come and gone, here are some "fun facts" about the CHASS's three commencement ceremonies
- Total Number of Ph.D. students hooded: 38
- Total Number of MFA students hooded: 22
- Number of times "The Impossible Dream" was performed: 3
- Total number of balloons/banners/air horns confiscated before the three commencement ceremonies and returned after the three ceremonies: 212
- Number of times the score from the Lakers' Final Championship game was mentioned by Boston-raised Dean Stephen Cullenberg at Sunday night's commencement ceremony: 3
- Number of students who walked in graduation ceremonies: CHASS 1: 549, CHASS 2: 481, CHASS 3: 518
- Age of the oldest student receiving degree in CHASS: 50 years old
- Number of estimated guests attending graduation ceremonies: CHASS 1: 4367, CHASS 2: 4500, CHASS 3: 4748
- Shortest ceremony: CHASS 2; procession started at 8:01 a.m.; ceremony ended at 9:37 a.m. = 1 hour 36 minutes
- Longest ceremony: CHASS 3; procession started at 6:00 p.m.; ceremony ended at 8:02 p.m. = 2 hours 2 minutes
Commencement Speakers |
|
 |
Saturday, June 13, 2009, 8:00 a.m.The Honorable Dr. Raymond L. OrbachChancellor Emeritus, Distinguished Professor of Physics Emeritus Raymond L. Orbach was nominated by President Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as the first Under Secretary for Science at the U.S. Department of Energy. Prior to and concurrent with serving as Under Secretary for Science, Dr. Orbach served as the 14th Director of the Office of Science at the Department of Energy. From 1992 to 2002, Dr. Orbach served as Chancellor of the University of California, Riverside. Under his leadership, UCR doubled in size, achieved national and international recognition in research, and led the University of California in diversity and educational opportunity. |
 |
Sunday, June 14, 2009, 8:00 a.m.Stephen P. Breen '92Editorial Cartoonist, The San Diego Union-Tribune Steve Breen graduated in 1992 with a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Riverside. Steve has been the editorial cartoonist for The San Diego Union-Tribune since 2001. His work is nationally syndicated by Creators News Service and regularly appears in USA Today, The New York Times and Newsweek. Steve is a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning (1998, 2009). Steve is also the recipient of the 2007 Berryman Award for editorial cartooning given by the National Press Foundation, The 2009 Thomas Nast Award given by The Overseas Press Club and the 2009 National Headliner Award. |
 |
Sunday, June 14, 2009, 6:00 p.m.Joel R. Reynolds '75Senior Attorney, Director of the Southern California Program Natural Resources Defense Council Joel Reynolds joined the staff of the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) as a Senior Attorney in 1990. He also serves as Director of the Southern California Program at the NRDC. Preceding his position at NRDC, he spent 10 years with the Center for Law in the Public Interest and the Western Center on Law and Poverty. He has twice received the Attorney of the Year for Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Law from the California Lawyer Magazine in 2003 and 2008. Mr. Reynolds received his B.A. from the University of California, Riverside, in 1975 and his J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1978. |
