WV Secretary of Education and the Arts to Deliver December Commencement Address

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

West Virginia’s Secretary of Education and the Arts will deliver the December Commencement address at West Virginia University at Parkersburg’s exercises to be held Friday, Dec. 14.

Kay Goodwin, cabinet secretary for the WV Department of Education and the Arts, will address the approximately 130 candidates for graduation during 7 p.m. ceremonies in the college’s multi-purpose room.

Faculty marshals will be Randy Oldaker, assistant professor of German and English, and Goran Trajkovski, assistant professor of computer science. Patrick Bitner, president of Student Government, will provide greetings from the student body. The College Chorale will perform with musical accompaniment provided by the Eastlawn Brass Quintet.

WVU Parkersburg President Erik Bitterbaum will confer degrees, certificates and honors assisted by Joseph Badgley, dean of academic affairs, and Judith Higgs, dean of students.

Mrs. Goodwin is a past chairman of the University of West Virginia System Board of Trustees. She has served on the board of directors of WVU Hospitals as well as on the board of the West Virginia United Health System, and the institutional Board of Advisors at WVU. She has served on various state and national arts and higher education boards and in various leadership capacities, including chairman of the West Virginia Commission on the Arts.

In 1996, she was named WVU’s Outstanding Alumna and in 1997 received the WVU President’s Distinguished Service Award. A former college and university faculty member, she was appointed as cabinet secretary by Governor Bob Wise in January, 2001.

A reception honoring the graduates and their families will be held immediately following the ceremony in the cafeteria area.

##

cd120501