WVU Parkersburg December 2008 Commencement

December 9, 2008

West Virginia Secretary of State to deliver WVU Parkersburg December Commencement address.

CONTACT: Leslie Sims, college registrar, 304-424-8220.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

West Virginia Secretary of State Betty Ireland will deliver the Commencement address at West Virginia University at Parkersburg’s December ceremonies.

Commencement will be held at 7 p.m., Friday, (Dec. 12), in the College Activities Center.

Approximately 240 WVU Parkersburg students are candidates for graduation. Close to 90 are expected to take part in the ceremonies. They represent August and December graduates.

Secretary Ireland is West Virginia's 28th Secretary of State. She is the first woman ever elected to the state’s executive branch of government. A native of Charleston, Secretary Ireland is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati.

WVU Parkersburg President Marie Foster Gnage will confer the certificates and associate and bachelor degrees to the graduates. The graduating class will be presented by Dr. Rhonda Richards, executive dean of academic affairs. Serving as grand marshal will be Gary Waggoner, chair of the Natural Sciences and Mathematics Division. Faculty members Erin Watkins and Amy Wolfe will assist as marshals.

A reception for the graduates and their families will follow in the cafeteria concourse.