NC State University to Hold Commencement Ceremonies May 9

North Carolina State University will confer more than 4,000 degrees on graduating students during its spring commencement exercises, beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 9, in the RBC Center in Raleigh. Media coverage is welcomed.

John Seely Brown, independent co-chairman of the Deloitte Center for Edge Innovation and a visiting scholar and advisor to the provost at the University of Southern California, will deliver the commencement address.

During the ceremony, Chancellor James Oblinger will confer 4,294 degrees – 80 associate’s, 3,049 bachelor’s, 929 master’s, 161 doctoral and 75 doctor of veterinary medicine degrees. One hundred and twenty-two valedictorians will be recognized for earning perfect 4.0 grade point averages during their academic careers at NC State.

Oblinger will confer honorary degrees on behalf of NC State to Brown and two other distinguished recipients: Sarita E. Brown, founding president of Excelencia in Education and a leader in the effort to raise academic achievement and opportunity for low-income and minority students, and Dr. Wayne Fuller, Emeritus Distinguished Professor in Statistics and Economics at Iowa State University.

NC State officials do not expect major traffic congestion, but advise attendees to be in their seats by 8:15 a.m. NC State’s Amalgam Brass Ensemble will begin playing at 8:30 a.m., and graduates will march onto the arena floor at 9 a.m. More commencement information is available online at www.ncsu.edu/registrar/graduation/index.html.

Note to editors: Media seating will be provided near the front of the stage on the left-hand side. NC State News Services personnel will be available to assist reporters.

While most cases of H1N1 flu in the United States at this time involve only mild illness, flu spreads easily. Parents and families typically come from all over the country, and in many cases all over the world, to attend commencement. Please take precautions if you are planning to attend, including staying home if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms such as fever (over 100 degrees F.), cough, sore throat or runny nose.

– barnhill –