Inside Iowa State

May 2, 2008

More than 3,000 to receive diplomas

by Anne Krapfl

An estimated 3,113 students will receive degrees from Iowa State at the conclusion of spring semester. Graduation activities will be held May 9-10.

The first commencement ceremony of the weekend will honor an anticipated 106 Ph.D. students and 325 master's students Friday, May 9, at 8 p.m. in Stephens. Sedahlia Crase, professor of human development and family studies and 2007-08 president of the Faculty Senate, will address the graduates. Crase's research focuses on parenting and parent education, including parenting attitudes and behaviors. In addition to scholarly publications, she contributes regularly to more popular venues on parenting.

At noon Saturday, May 10, also in Stephens, 106 students will receive their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees. ISU alumnus, former faculty member and entrepreneur Dr. W. Eugene Lloyd will address the graduates. Lloyd received his D.V.M. in 1949 and a Ph.D. in 1970 in veterinary pathology and served on the faculty from 1974 to 1984. Lloyd and his wife, Linda Lloyd, contributed $3.5 million for the expansion and renovation of the veterinary teaching hospital, which opens this fall and has been named for them.

At 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Hilton, an estimated 2,576 students will be honored at the undergraduate commencement ceremony.

ISU alumnus Michael Crow, president of Arizona State University since 2002, will receive a Doctor of Humane Letters "for outstanding leadership in higher education and for exceptional service to ISU and the state of Iowa in developing science and technology initiatives." Crow will give the commencement address.

Crow received his bachelor's degree (1977) in political science and environmental science from Iowa State. He returned to Iowa State in 1985 as director of science policy and research and helped found the Institute for Physical Research and Technology, which he led from 1988 to 1991. He served in various capacities in the provost office at Columbia University, New York City, from 1991 to 2002, before taking the head job at Arizona State.

Crow helped found the Center for Science Policy and Outcomes in Washington, D.C., dedicated to linking science and technology to desired social, economic and environmental outcomes. In 2003, the center was reestablished at Arizona State as the Consortium for Science Policy and Outcomes.

Tickets are not required for any of the commencement ceremonies.

Iowa State's colleges honor their graduating students during their own ceremonies or receptions. A list of graduation events is below.

2008 Spring commencement
May 9-10

Friday, May 9

• 2-4 p.m., Reception, honoring international undergraduate and graduate students, 179 Scheman, 4-0376.
• 4:30 p.m., Ceremony, College of Human Sciences, for undergraduate students, Stephens (6 p.m. reception for undergraduate and graduate students, first floor lobby, Scheman), 4-7002.
• 5 p.m., Ceremony, College of Business, for undergraduate and graduate students, Hilton, 4-8300.
• 5:30 p.m., Reception and informal program, College of Engineering, for graduate students, 220 Scheman, 4-8857.
• 8 p.m., Ceremony, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, for undergraduate students, Hilton, 4-7742.
• 8 p.m., Commencement, for master's and doctoral students, Stephens, 4-9372.

Saturday, May 10

• 8 a.m., Reception, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, for undergraduate students (9 a.m. ceremony), Stephens, 4-8653.
• 9 a.m., Receptions, College of Engineering, by department, (9:30-10:30 a.m. recognition programs), for undergraduate students, Scheman locations, Fisher Theater and Hilton, 4-8857.
• 9:30 a.m., Reception, College of Design, for undergraduate and graduate students (10 a.m. ceremony), atrium, Design, 4-7428.
• Noon, Commencement, College of Veterinary Medicine, Stephens, 4-0772.
• 1:30 p.m., Commencement, for undergraduate students in all colleges, Hilton, 4-9372.

First look at new regalia

Passing of the ram head

Iowa State's undergraduate ceremony May 10 will include a tradition being done for just the third time -- the passing of a (wooden) ram head. A little background:

The ram head graced a chapel column in Iowa State's Old Main, which was badly damaged and then destroyed by fires in 1900 and 1902. While digging through the ruins, faculty members Edgar Stanton and O.H. Cessna found the ram head and kept it as a symbol of "new education" provided by Iowa State. Following their deaths, it was presented to Arloe Paul, class of 1933, with instructions to guard it for 25 years and pass it on to the Century class of 1958.

The tradition has continued, and every 25 years it is passed on by the class president. At the May 10 undergraduate ceremony, Kevin Drury, class of 1983, will pass on the ram head to Jesse Truax, class of 2008.