The Class of 2001 at California State University, Fresno is counting down the days: about 5 to go before the 4,006 graduating students become the 90th class eligible for Commencement this Saturday, May 26, at 8:30 a.m. in Bulldog Stadium.

Across the campus, colleges, schools, departments and programs are preparing for a week of celebrations and ceremonies marking the completion of academic studies for the spring semester.

At this year’s commencement, President John D. Welty will confer 3,292 baccalaureate degrees and 704 master’s degrees.

Doctoral degrees in educational leadership, offered jointly by Fresno State and the University of California, Davis will be conferred on ten students.

The 90th commencement includes one major change this year: an 8:30 a.m. start time that is a half-hour earlier than previously. Gates will open to the public at 7:30 and degree candidates must check in by 7:15 a.m. Tickets are not required.

The week’s activities began Sunday, May 20, with the Convocation for Graduating International Students and culminate May 26 with the evening Latino Commencement Celebration at which California Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante will be honored.

The Graduate Degree Hooding Ceremony for Master’s candidates will be held Friday, May 25 at 6 p.m. in the Amphitheater on campus. A total of 20 convocations, ceremonies or celebrations will be held.

For Saturday morning’s Commencement, President Welty will conduct the ceremony and announce the recipient of the President’s Medal, the highest honor given by the university to an undergraduate student.

New this year is the University Graduate Medal, which is equivalent to the President’s Medal but for a master’s student, and dean’s medals for master’s students as well.

The two top undergraduate and graduate recipients are chosen from the 18 Dean’s Medal winners who have been selected as the outstanding graduates representing each of the university’s eight colleges and schools, the Division of Graduate Studies and the Division of Student Affairs.

The Dean’s Medalists will lead the processional into Bulldog Stadium for their respective colleges or schools and Graduate Studies and will receive special recognition from their deans during the proceedings.

Dr. Welty also will confer emeritus status on 27 retiring faculty members in recognition of their years of service to the university.

The commencement ceremony will include the conferring of the honorary doctorate of humane letters on Valley businessman William J. “Bill” Lyles of Fresno.

The Foundation Service Award will be presented to long-time university supporters, Edward M. Kashian and Robert E. Duncan, while Fresno State theater arts professor Edward EmanuEl will be honored as one of five recipients statewide of the prestigious California State University Wang Family California State University, Excellence Award.

Additionally, Dr. Lillian Faderman, English professor, will be presented this year’s Excellence in Teaching Award by Provost J. Michael Ortiz. Four other faculty members will also be honored.

Following the ceremony, the new Smittcamp Alumni House, located off Maple and Shaw Avenues at the southeast end of the campus, will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for self-guided tours.

This year, 152 scholars are graduating cum laude (with praise: 3.5 grade point average or higher). Another 182 are magna cum laude (with great praise: 3.70 to 3.89) and 106 are summa cum laude (with highest praise: 3.9 or better).

Gary Nelson, commencement coordinator from the Division of Student Affairs, said this is one of the largest classes to be eligible for graduation. He expects about 3,000 candidates to actually participate.

Students have been flocking to the Kennel Bookstore on campus to obtain regalia for the milestone event in their lives — caps and gown, tassels in different colors representing the eight colleges, invitations and gifts.

The store also provides students an information pamphlet with instructions for the day. The information is available at the commencement web site, which can be linked from at www.fresnostatenews.com.

Guest seating for the program will be located on the east side of the stadium.

Free parking will be available on the fields surrounding the stadium and in the campus lots east of Cedar Avenue. Parking for stadium events is prohibited in the neighborhoods adjacent to the facility. Commencement participants are encouraged to arrive early to help avoid traffic congestion.

Parking for persons with disabilities will be provided in the lot south of the stadium with access from Bulldog Lane. In the stadium, specially designated areas for persons with disabilities will be available with one companion allowed per person.

For more information, call Student Affairs at 278-2541 or Student Activities at 278-2741.

CLASS OF 2001 DEAN’S MEDALISTS:

Arakel A. Arisian, Fresno (Bullard High) – Craig School of Business; and

Division of Student Affairs (double medalist)

Ronda L. Hamm, Fresno (Central High) – College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology

Amanda Johnson, Fresno (Edison High) – College of Arts and Humanities

Pedro Enrique Nava, Planada (LeGrand High) – School of Education and Human Development

Terry J. Anson, Hughson – College of Engineering and Computer Science

Cynthia A. Goddard, Fresno – College of Health and Human Services

Kim Goto, Madera (Edison High)– College of Science and Mathematics

María Rocío Magaña, Merced (Merced High) – College of Social Sciences

CLASS OF 2001 GRADUATE DEAN’S MEDALISTS:

Emil Milevoj, Croatia – Craig School of Business

Yee Wah “Eva” Wong, Malaysia – Division of Student Affair.

Jennifer Carmelita Miguel, Fresno – College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology

Douglas Hansen, Clovis – College of Arts and Humanities

Coleen Kubota, Kingsburg – School of Education and Human Development

Mei Zhang, China – College of Engineering and Computer Science

Stacey Abersold, Porterville – College of Health and Human Services

Timothy McConnico, Fresno – College of Science and Mathematics

Curtis James Eastin, Reedley – College of Social Sciences

90th Commencement: Convocations • Celebrations • Ceremonies

California State University, Fresno

FRIDAY, MAY 25

School of Education and Human Development Convocation

8 a.m.

North Gym

278-027

Sid Craig School of Business Convocation

9 a.m.

Saroyan Theatre

278-2482

College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology 32nd Annual Honors Convocation

10 a.m.

Amphitheater

278-2061

College of Social Sciences Convocatin

11 a.m.

North Gym

278-3013

Department of Kinesiology Graduation Celebration

1 p.m.

Satellite Student Union

278-2543

College of Arts and Humanities Convocation

2 p.m.

North Gym

278-3056

Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony

2 p.m.

Smittcamp Alumni House

278-2887

Dept. of Social Work Ed. Graduation Celebration

3:30 p.m.

Satellite Student Union

278-6485

College of Engineering and Computer Science Convocation

4 p.m.

North Gym

278-2500

Department of Communication Convocatio

4 p.m.

John Wright Theatre

278-2827

Graduate Degree Hooding Ceremon

6 p

Amphitheater

278-2448

Air Force ROTC Commissioning Ceremony

6 p.m.

Smittcamp Alumni House

278-2593

African/American Recognition Program

7:30 p.m.

Bulldog Stadium

278-1787

Department of Physical Therapy Ceremony

8 p.m.

Satellite Student Union

43

SATURDAY, MAY 26

90th UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT

8:30 a.m.

Bulldog Stadium

278-2741

University Migrant Services Graduation Luncheon

11:30 a.m.

Grass west of Satellite Student Union

278-1787

Department of Psychology Graduation Celebration

11:30 a.m.

Peace Garden

278-2691

Asian/American Graduation Recognition

2 p.m.

Satellite Student Union

278-2028

Latino Commencement Celebration

6:30 p.m.

Bulldog Stadium

278-2848