NC State To Hold Commencement Ceremonies Dec. 19

North Carolina State University will confer more than 3,000 degrees on graduating students during its fall commencement exercises, beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, in the RBC Center in Raleigh. Media coverage is welcomed.

During the ceremony, Chancellor James H. Woodward will confer 3,013 degrees – 63 associate’s, 1,902 bachelor’s, 782 master’s and 266 doctoral degrees. Twenty-one valedictorians will be recognized for earning perfect 4.0 grade point averages during their academic careers at NC State.

Woodward will confer honorary degrees on behalf of NC State to Dr. Jack Ward Thomas, former head of the U.S. Forest Service and career conservationist, and G. Smedes York, Raleigh’s former mayor and NC State alumnus.

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: Scheduled commencement speaker Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri is unable to attend. 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.

– barnhill –