George Washington’s class of 2010 will celebrate Commencement with the U.S. Capitol as a backdrop and First Lady Michelle Obama as speaker.
It promises to be an experience like no other.
“Commencement at GW is a remarkable event,” says Michael Peller, assistant vice president for events and venues, who oversees planning for the weekend. “It brings all parts of the university together, and we try to provide a lasting memory for our graduates.”
GW’s Commencement Weekend, which actually spans five days from May 12 to 16, comprises more than 20 events. They include Monumental Celebration, a gala at Union Station; the traditional Interfaith Baccalaureate; and individual school celebrations.
The capstone will be the university-wide ceremony on the morning of May 16. GW is the only school in the nation to hold its graduation on the National Mall.
At the ceremony, Mrs. Obama will speak and receive an honorary Doctor of Public Service after GW met her 100,000-hour service challenge issued last fall.
“The George Washington community is very excited that the first lady will be joining us on the National Mall, and we look forward to her speech to our graduates,” says Lorraine Voles, vice president for external relations.
Jazz legend Dave Brubeck and A. James Clark, engineer, entrepreneur and philanthropist, will also receive honorary degrees. Mr. Brubeck is an award-winning pianist and composer whose storied career has spanned more than six decades. A GW trustee emeritus, Mr. Clark is chairman and CEO of Clark Enterprises Inc., holding company of Clark Construction Group, one of the nation’s largest general contractors.
After earning the right in the student speaker competition, GW senior Zoe Petkanas will address her fellow graduates.
Winners of some of the university’s top honors—the GW Award and the Oscar and Shoshana Trachtenberg Prize—will be recognized at the ceremony. Professors Bruce Dickson, John Lachin and Honey Nashman are the winners of the 2010 Oscar and Shoshana Trachtenberg Teaching, Scholarship and Service Prizes, respectively.
This year’s GW Awards, which honor service to the university community, will be presented to Larrie Greenberg, clinical professor of pediatrics; Brian Hawthorne, graduating student and president of GW Veterans Organization; Rachelle Heller, associate dean for academic affairs on the Mount Vernon Campus; and Judith Plotz, professor of English.
About 6,400 graduates are eligible to participate in the university-wide ceremony, which also includes those who earned their degrees last fall and winter.
In addition to the university ceremony, each of GW’s nine schools holds its own celebration. Speakers will include Mary L. Schapiro, J.D. ’80, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, who will address Law School graduates, and Rose Gottemoeller, M.A. ’81, assistant secretary of state for verification, compliance and implementation, who will speak at the Elliott School of International Affairs ceremony.
Planning for Commencement Weekend, the university's largest event, starts a year in advance and involves dozens of staff, faculty and students. “A large committee has been working since last May with the U.S. Park Service and D.C. government to create a memorable experience for our graduates and their guests,” says Kat Bugg, executive director of university events.
Ms. Voles says additional security for the university-wide Commencement may present some logistical challenges this year and urges graduates and Commencement ticketholders planning to attend to check commencement.gwu.edu for the most up-to-date information about arrival times and seating arrangements.