1,000+ students graduate from University of Richmond this weekend

May 2, 2016

The University of Richmond will celebrate commencement weekend May 7-8. The university expects to award more than 1,000 degrees, including 790 bachelor’s degrees, 84 master’s degrees, 35 MBA degrees and 151 juris doctor degrees.

By the numbers

  • Through study abroad, research and internship programs in 60 countries, more than 65 percent of the Class of 2016 went abroad with university support.
  • Accounting students in the Robins School of Business worked 593 hours in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site at UR Downtown. VITA offers free tax help to low-to-moderate-income people who cannot prepare their own tax returns.
  • Twenty-five members of the Richmond School of Law Class of 2016 will receive the Carrico Center Pro Bono Certificate, representing almost 6,000 hours of pro bono service in the community.
  • Leadership studies majors in the Jepson School of Leadership Studies completed more than 13,000 internship hours.
  • The School of Professional and Continuing Studies is awarding graduate degrees to its first group of 14 students in the new Nonprofit Studies Program.
  • Seniors gave 122 presentations at this year’s School of Arts and Sciences Student Symposium, which provides students an opportunity to present their research in a professional setting, comparable to an international conference or discipline-specific symposium.

“Green” Graduation

  • This year’s graduates will be wearing caps and gowns from Oak Hall’s GreenWeaver line, which is made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled water bottles. To date, this program has recycled more than 62 million water bottles.
  • Fewer programs are being printed for each ceremony to more accurately reflect anticipated attendance. Programs will be printed on 100 percent recycled paper with plant-based inks.
  • All Robins Center receptions will use compostable dinnerware and cutlery.

Commencement Speakers

Graduates will be addressed by an impressive line-up of speakers, including award-winning journalist and civil rights activist Charlayne Hunter-Gault, who will speak during the main ceremony for undergraduates from the School of Arts and Sciences, Robins School of Business and Jepson School of Leadership Studies. The ceremony takes place at 2 p.m. May 8 in the Robins Center.

John Fernandez, former CEO of Daystar Desserts, will give the commencement address for the MBA ceremony May 7 at 11:30 a.m. in the Robins School of Business, Queally Hall, Ukrop Auditorium. James Comey, director of the FBI, will address graduates of the School of Law May 7 at 2 p.m. in the Robins Center.

The School of Professional and Continuing Studies will feature a graduating student, faculty member and an alumnus at the SPCS graduation ceremony. The student speaker is Ben Baldwin, who is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies in IT Management.

The faculty speaker and recipient of the Itzkowitz Family Distinguished Adjunct Faculty Award is Connie Hill, an adjunct instructor teaching courses in finite math and critical thinking and analysis. Hill was selected by the SPCS student body for the award, which recognizes the teaching achievements of an adjunct faculty member.

The alumni speaker is Lin Koch, who is the recipient of the Gibb Family Distinguished Alumni Award which recognizes the accomplishments of an SPCS alumni member, as well as their support of SPCS. She earned a Bachelor of Applied Studies in Human Resource Management in 2003 and is a semi-retired administrative professional.

More information on commencement speakers and ceremonies is available in this media release.

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