University of Southern Maine

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USM Commencement News Advisory

May 10, 2006

To help you plan coverage of USM's 126th Commencement, here is the outline of the ceremony.

TIME/PLACE: 9 a.m.-12 noon, this Saturday, May 13, Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland. Nearly 1,200 graduates are expected to participate in the ceremony. There are over 1,700 eligible graduates in the Class of 2006, USM's largest graduating class.

CEREMONY SCHEDULE: 8:15 a.m. Graduates line up. 9:00. Ceremony begins. 9:30 Student commencement address, Linda M. Jalbert (text available). 9:45 Distinguished Achievement Awards to Madeleine (Maddy) G. Corson and General Wallace H. Nutting, U.S. Army (Ret.) for their professional accomplishments and community service. 10:00 Honorary degrees to Victoria Rowell and Bob Ludwig. 10:15 Keynote address, Victoria Rowell. 10:35 Presentation of diplomas to individual graduates. 12 noon Ceremony ends.

AWARD RECIPIENTS: Distinguished Achievement Awards for significant professional achievement and public service to former chair of Guy Gannett Communications Maddy G. Corson; and retired Army general and current mayor of Biddeford Wallace H. Nutting, Honorary degrees to actress Victoria Rowell for her commitment to social justice with respect to foster children and youth; and to Bob Ludwig of Gateway Mastering and DVD, Portland, for contributions to his field.

INTERESTING GRADUATES: Student commencement speaker Linda M. Jalbert of Portland is the first in her immediate family to graduate from college. After several years in and out of jails and drug rehabs, she began classes at USM through the first pilot Drug Court program.  Jalbert, a student in the Honors Program, is graduating with a political science major and a minor in economics. She interned on Capitol Hill, and is planning to return to Washington D.C. in the fall.

Murama Rugumanya of Rwanda, currently of Portland, is another student who arrived at USM against all odds. The pastor of his church, a Hutu, risked his and his families’ lives hiding Rugumanya in their home for three months during the genocide. Rugumanya, a psychology major, plans to attend graduate school in the U.S. to study conflict transformation, and then return to Rwanda where he will work toward the healing and reconstruction of his homeland.

Emily Wood of Poland escaped a dead-end job and an abusive relationship, landing at USM’s Lewiston-Auburn College (LAC) with the help of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Parents as Scholars Program. Wood, who was selected as USM’s Outstanding Senior for 2006, plans to pursue a graduate degree in Leadership Studies at LAC. She will be attending the University of Maine’s commencement in Orono on Saturday to watch her sister’s graduation. They are the first in their family to graduate from college.

FOR HELP ARRANGING COVERAGE: Judie O'Malley of the USM Office of Public Affairs can be reached at 207-780-4200. She can be reached at home, 839-6402, or 329-0985 (cell). During the ceremony, call Bob Caswell at 939-2377, or O’Malley at 329-0985.

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