News Article

For the seventh consecutive year, Gonzaga University will graduate its largest class ever the next two weekends as a total of 2,019 undergraduate, graduate and law students don caps and gowns for the University’s 116^th commencement ceremonies. Graduate and undergraduate ceremonies are Saturday and Sunday, May 9-10, respectively. The Law School commencement will take place Saturday, May 16.

There are approximately 180 more graduates this year than in 2008 when 1,839 degrees were conferred. To be conferred this year are 1,072 bachelor, 743 master, 19 doctoral and 185 law degrees. Last May, Gonzaga conferred 1,050 bachelor, 605 master, 19 doctoral and 165 law degrees.

                ROTC COMMISSIONING CEREMONY will launch the first weekend of commencement activities at 5 p.m., Friday, May 8. This event will be held in Cataldo Hall on the GU campus.

             GRADUATE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY will take place in the McCarthey Athletic Center at 5 p.m., Saturday, May 9. The academic procession will begin at 4:45 p.m. The keynote speaker will be former Jesuit Scholastic Christopher Lowney, who will receive an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Gonzaga. Lowney authored “Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company that Changed the World,” as well as “A Vanished World: Medieval Spain’s Golden Age of Enlightenment” and his most recent book, “Heroic Living.” Anna Ledgerwood, director of trauma and professor of surgery at Wayne State University School of Medicine, will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. Dr. Ledgerwood, who specializes in acute surgical emergencies, earned a bachelor degree in psychology from Gonzaga in 1963. A champagne social will be held on the south lawn of the Martin Centre at the conclusion of the ceremony.

            SENIOR COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY will begin in the Spokane Veterans’ Memorial Arena at 10 a.m., Sunday, May 10. The academic procession will begin at 9:35 a.m. Gonzaga President Rev. Robert J. Spitzer, S.J., who will step down from the position this summer after 11 years, will be the keynote speaker. Father Spitzer will receive the DeSmet Medal, Gonzaga’s highest honor. Longtime Gonzaga benefactors Tom and Camilla Tilford will receive honorary Doctor of Law degrees from Gonzaga. Tom Tilford, a 1966 alumnus, has served as a member of the Gonzaga Board of Trustees and is now a Trustee Emeritus and director of Gonzaga’s Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program. A champagne social will follow the ceremony on the Johnston Mall in front of Gonzaga’s College Hall. Parking at the Arena is $5.

        SCHOOL OF LAW COMMENCEMENT will take place in the McCarthey Athletic Center beginning at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, May 16. The academic procession will begin at 9:15 a.m. and the ceremony will run from 9:30-11 a.m. The Honorable Ryan C. Crocker, former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Gonzaga and will be the keynote speaker. Crocker also served as former Ambassador to Pakistan and as a member of U.S. Foreign Service since 1971. Thomas J. Greenan will be honored with Gonzaga’s 2009 Law Medal, awarded to individuals who have provided exemplary service to the law. Twice an alumnus, Greenan has served as a Regent and Trustee to Gonzaga and is currently Trustee Emeritus. Greenan also served as acting dean of the Gonzaga-in-Florence study abroad program and is a longtime benefactor and valued adviser to Gonzaga. This commencement will be followed by a social at the School of Law.

            BACCALAUREATE MASSES will be held as follows. Undergraduates/Graduates: 1:30 p.m., Saturday, May 9, McCarthey Athletic Center to be concelebrated by Rev. William Skylstad, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Spokane and GU Jesuits Revs. Robert J. Spitzer and Steve Kuder. Rev. Steve Hess, S.J., will deliver the homily. School of Law: 5:30 p.m., Friday, May 15, St. Aloysius Church. Rev. Mark McGregor, S.J., University Ministry coordinator, will preside.

            For more information, contact Susie Prusch at (509) 313-5571 or via e-mail.