Stories this week at Wake Forest

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY ON MAY 15

John Chambers, president and CEO of Cisco Systems, will deliver the 2000 commencement address during an outdoor ceremony at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 15, on University Plaza. Chambers will receive an honorary degree during the ceremony.

“MR. INTERNET” TO ADDRESS GRADUATES

John Chambers, president and chief executive officer of Cisco Systems Inc., will deliver Wake Forest’s commencement address on May 15. Chambers will also receive an honorary doctor of laws degree during the outdoor ceremony, which will begin at 9 a.m. on the campus’ University Plaza. Business Week magazine has dubbed Chambers “Mr. Internet” and Time Digital magazine listed him among the top 10 most influential leaders shaping technology. Cisco, a worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, has helped shape the Internet economy and conducts much of its own business online.

RELIGION WRITER TO DELIVER BACCALAUREATE ADDRESS

The Rev. Frederick Buechner, an author and Presbyterian minister, will deliver the university’s baccalaureate address during commencement weekend and receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. Baccalaureate is a private ceremony for graduates and their guests. However, a public reception with Buechner is planned from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 14, in the main lounge of Reynolda Hall. Buechner is available for media interviews. Please contact the News Service.

STONE TO ADDRESS LAW SCHOOL GRADUATES

Christopher Stone, the president and director of the Vera Institute of Justice, will deliver the hooding address for the School of Law at 1:45 p.m. in Wait Chapel on Sunday, May 14. The Vera Institute of Justice is a nonprofit organization that designs and implements innovations in the justice system.

MOLECULAR BIOLOGIST TO ADDRESS GRADUATE SCHOOL

Eric N. Olson, a Wake Forest alumnus and a professor of molecular biology and oncology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, will deliver the hooding address for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at 3 p.m. on May 14 in the Scales Fine Arts Center’s Brendle Recital Hall. Olson was elected this month to the National Academy of Sciences. Election to membership in the Academy is considered one of the highest honors that can be accorded a U.S. scientist or engineer.

MAYNARD TO ADDRESS MEDICAL SCHOOL GRADUATES

Dr. C. Douglas Maynard, professor and former department chairman with Wake Forest’s department of radiology, will deliver the hooding address for the School of Medicine at 4:15 in Wait Chapel on Sunday, May 14.

KRISPY KREME EXECUTIVE TO ADDRESS BABCOCK GRADUATES

The hooding ceremony for MBA students from the Babcock Graduate School of Management is scheduled at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 14, in Wait Chapel. Margaret Urquhart, chief operations officer and executive vice president of Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation, will deliver the hooding address.

FIVE HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTS

Honorary degree recipients include John Chambers, president and CEO of Cisco Systems; The Rev. Frederick Buechner, Presbyterian minister and author, doctor of humane letters; Thomas W. Lambeth, retiring executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, doctor of laws; Dr. Claude Lenfant, director of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health, doctor of science; Helen Lewis, an authority on Appalachian life and culture in the 20th century, doctor of divinity; and A.E. Dick Howard, constitutional law scholar and the White Burkett Miller Professor of Law and Public Affairs at the University of Virginia School of Law, doctor of laws.

WFDD TO BROADCAST COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

As a public service, WFDD (88.5 FM) will broadcast John Chambers commencement address in its entirety beginning at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 15.

MILESTONE FOR TECHNOLOGY

This year’s graduating class will hold a unique place in Wake Forest’s history as the first class to benefit fully from a major technology initiative, which put a laptop in the hands of every student. “The graduation this month marks a milestone in one of the most comprehensive university technology programs anywhere,” said Jay Dominick, assistant vice president for information systems. “The university has moved to being the leader in the area of ubiquitous computing.” Wake Forest was recently ranked the 19th most wired university by Yahoo! Internet Life magazine. For interviews about the technology plan, call the News Service.

COMMENCEMENT LIVE ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB

Wake Forest and Cisco Systems are teaming up to provide a live broadcast of commencement over the Internet. The real-time video feed will go from Wake Forest to Cisco Systems for distribution over the Internet. Visit the Wake Forest homepage at www.wfu.edu for the link.

INFORMATION ON-LINE

Visit the News Service Web site at www.wfu.edu/wfunews for commencement details. The Web site features stories and links about John Chambers and this year’s honorary degree recipients, as well as downloadable, print quality photos. Web site coverage of commencement will include Chamber’s speech, sound clips and photographs.

Categories: Commencement, Media Advisory, University Announcement