Exciting New
Traditions Begin at UC San Diego!

Graduating Seniors at UC San Diego Share
in Fun Activities June 13-20 Prior to Commencements

April 29, 2008

By Pat JaCoby and Christine Clark

A first-ever Senior Week and an All Campus Graduation Celebration featuring keynote speaker Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are planned to honor seniors graduating from the University of California, San Diego in June.

The usual mid-June UC San Diego commencements have been rescheduled this year to June 21-22 to accommodate the impact of the U.S. Open Championship being held adjacent to UC San Diego at the Torrey Pines Golf Course June 9-15. Finals, however, will continue as scheduled June 9-13.

“To make the most of this change in schedule,” noted Penny Rue, vice chancellor of Student Affairs, “we have planned Senior Week June 13-20 as an opportunity for graduating seniors to join with their classmates in a number of activities such as a Padres baseball game, San Diego Zoo excursion, La Jolla Beach bonfire and Mission Bay recreation day. The purpose of this week is to bring students together to bond over their common experience as UC San Diego students before entering their new phase as alumni.”

“The week also will be a time for graduating seniors to make use of services that students sometimes neglect during the hustle and bustle of the quarter,” Rue said. Many of the Senior Week activities were developed based on a survey of 1,300 graduating seniors which found that the seniors wanted one last opportunity to experience the attractions of San Diego, to connect with their fellow classmates and to explore career options. Career Services will offer a career and job search fair and the RIMAC recreation facilities will be open. The majority of activities will either be free for the graduates or have a small cost associated with transportation or other services, she noted.

In addition, the first ever “All Campus Graduation Celebration” will be held June 19. The event is open to graduating undergraduate and graduate students and alumni of UC San Diego. It will give all graduating UCSD students the opportunity to celebrate together at a large-scale event, regardless of their college. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., environmental advocate, author, leader on sustainability and chief prosecuting attorney for the Riverkeeper environmental alliance, will serve as guest speaker. Emma Sandoe, co-chair of the All Campus Graduation Celebration, noted that Kennedy was an ideal choice for speaker because of his impressive commitment to public service and the environment. “We were looking for a speaker that could unite the campus under issues that the campus community and especially seniors care about,” she said.

The program also will include the presentation of Outstanding Senior and Graduate Student Awards and the presentation of a senior class gift. The awards will be given to a graduating senior and graduate student who have earned the admiration of the UC San Diego community for exceptional contributions to university life and who have generously served the university. The winners will be awarded $1000 each and a lifetime membership to the UC San Diego Alumni Association. Following the ceremony there will be a fireworks display and reception with food and drinks.

Other Senior Week events include

• The Sea World excursion; seniors will be offered half-priced tickets to the theme park throughout the week.
• June 14 is the Senior Day at the San Diego Zoo, an event that gives seniors free transportation to and from the Zoo and unlimited access to the Skyfari, Arial Tram and more.
• A senior bonfire is scheduled on June 15 at La Jolla Shores.
• Recreational events include the Senior Week Sports Classic June 16, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at RIMAC. During the Sports Classic students will have a chance to compete against each other in fun-spirited activities. All attendees will be served free food at the end of the day and game champions will be awarded with prizes.
• On June 17, seniors can enjoy Senior Day at the Bay at the Mission Bay Aquatic Center, where participants will have access to the Aquatic Center’s sailboats, kayaks and volleyball courts.
• Individual colleges will hold special events for seniors on June 17.
• June 18, Class of 2008 Plaque Induction along library walk.
• The Alumni Association’s New Grads Mixer, takes place June 18 at 6 p.m. at Michael’s in the UTC Hyatt Hotel. The event will feature free appetizers and give seniors a chance to meet and mingle with members of the local UC San Diego Alumni Chapter.

Senior Week will culminate with the senior Pre-Game Downtown and Padres Baseball Game on June 20 at 7 p.m. Tickets are free, but for a small fee, students can be transported by shuttle from Sun God Lawn to Petco Park where they can celebrate with fellow seniors before the big game.

More information about Senior Week, dates and information about the six college commencements June 21-22, and the All Campus Graduation Celebration June 19 can be obtained at http://seniors.ucsd.edu.

Media Contacts:
Christine Clark, 858-534-7618
Pat JaCoby, 858-534-7404