Newman University will hold the Fall 2008 Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement ceremony on Dec. 12 and Dec. 13, respectively. The university will also honor two members of the religious community by awarding them honorary degrees during the Commencement exercises.Baccalaureate Mass and Reception
The Fall 2008 Baccalaureate Mass will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, in the historic St. John’s Chapel on the Newman campus. St. John’s Chapel is located inside Sacred Heart Hall, the university’s main administration building. Mass will be followed by a reception at approximately 8 p.m. in the Dugan-Gorges Conference Center, inside the Dugan Library and Campus Center on the Newman campus.
Commencement
Fall 2008 Commencement will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13 at Central Community Church, 6100 W. Maple. This year, 169 candidates for graduation will take part in Commencement exercises. The event will include 32 candidates for associate’s degrees, 93 candidates for bachelor’s degrees and 44 candidates for master’s degrees.
The Commencement ceremony will include an address by Newman Assistant Professor of Biology Stacy Jones, Ph.D. Jones received the 2008 Newman University Teaching Excellence Award, an annual recognition to a full-time faculty member who has demonstrated an innovative or dynamic approach to courses, course revisions, and teaching techniques. The award recipient also has the honor of speaking at the following fall and spring commencement ceremonies.
Honorary Degrees
Newman officials will also revive a practice beginning with Fall 2008 Commencement that has not been used since 2003 – the bestowing of honorary degrees. The university will present a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa degree to two notable and accomplished members of the extended Newman community at both the fall and spring commencement ceremonies. The degree will be awarded to individuals whose life and work reflect exemplary dedication to one of the university’s four Core Values: Catholic Identity, Culture of Service, Academic Excellence, and Global Perspective.
For the fall 2008 ceremony, the Most Rev. Ronald Gilmore, DD, Bishop of the Diocese of Dodge City, will receive an honorary degree as a model of Catholic Identity. Bishop Gilmore was selected for the example of Christ-like charity that he sets, the love of the Church and its people that he manifests, and the commitment to Catholic education and servant leadership that his life has been built upon.
Therese Wetta, ASC, Ph.D., General Councilor for the Adorers of the Blood of Christ USA Region, will receive a degree for her efforts to foster a Global Perspective through her work locally, nationally and internationally. Sister Wetta has served her religious congregation in various assignments around the globe, and worked with agencies such as Catholic Charities USA to support the work of other congregations and their sponsored ministries throughout the United States and abroad.
