Media Contact: Pat JaCoby (858) 534-7404

VARIED SPEAKERS SET FOR JUNE 17-18 COMMENCEMENTS AT UCSD

Poet and writer Maya Angelou will serve as keynote speaker at University of California, San Diego all-campus graduation ceremonies June 17, while a national genome expert, a state trade official, the UCSD chancellor, student and faculty representatives will be speakers at seven separate college commencements to follow June 17-18.

Preceding the weekend of commencements, the UCSD School of Medicine will honor its 128 new M.D.'s and 2,000 guests at 11 a.m. ceremonies June 4 on the East Lawn of the Medical School. Dr. Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., director of the National Human Genome Research Institute in Bethesda, Md., will speak on the topic, "The End of the Beginning."

Angelou, a Renaissance woman hailed as one of the great voices of contemporary literature, will speak during the 10 a.m. all-campus commencement on RIMAC Field. Some 10,000 graduates and their families are expected to attend. An actress, playwright and civil rights activist in addition to authoring poetry and books, Angelou is the fourth keynote speaker since a tradition of all-campus graduations started in 1997 when President Clinton visited the campus.

A jazz group led by graduate student Jason Robinson will perform before the ceremony, and the UCSD Gospel Choir, led by Ken Anderson, will sing during the graduation.

The general public may obtain free seating tickets for the all-campus ceremony from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 5-12 at the Price Center Box Office on the campus on a first come, first served basis. Lunch tickets, at $4 each, will be available for purchase in advance June 5-12 from the UCSD Bookstore.

Following the all-campus rites, the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies will hold its commencement for 80 students at 1 p.m. June 17 in the IR/PS Plaza. California Trade and Commerce Secretary Lon S. Hatamiya, the state's top international expert, will speak.

Earl Warren College graduation is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. June 17 on the RIMAC Field with some 700 graduates receiving their degrees. Senior Eric Ratner will represent his fellow graduates as student speaker, while a faculty representative also will speak.

Actor James Avery, a 1976 UCSD graduate, and graduating senior Christopher Reefe will be the guest speakers at ceremonies for 650 graduates of Thurgood Marshall College at 2 p.m. June 17 on the Thurgood Marshall Playing Field.

Also at 2 p.m. June 17, Eleanor Roosevelt College will hold its graduation in RIMAC Arena with students, to be selected, as guest speakers.

Students Jachyn Katura Davis, Ben Nathan Gleiberman, Josh Seth Gopen and Katherine Anne Lane have been selected as graduation speakers for John Muir College ceremonies at 9 a.m. June 18 on the Marshall College Playing Field.

UCSD Chancellor Robert C. Dynes is the guest speaker scheduled at a noon ceremony in the Price Center Ballroom for some 150 Graduate Studies students receiving advanced degrees.

And in the final commencement, Revelle College will hold its ceremony at 2 p.m. June 18 on the Thurgood Marshall Playing Field. William Arctander (cq) O'Brien, associate professor of literature, will be the guest speaker.

Following the various graduations on June 17, the UCSD Alumni Association will honor outstanding alumni and students at an "Alumni Awards for Excellence Gala 2000" from 6 to 9:30 p.m. in the Price Center Ballroom. A cocktail reception will be followed by gourmet dining and a multimedia presentation of awards.

Meanwhile, the Class of 2000 plans to raise $20,000 to help build nature trails as its senior gift. As part of the UCSD Grand Park and Meander, the trails will create a natural park on campus by connecting existing land reserves. Leaders in the student drive say the nature trails will provide a place for students to enjoy the natural environment the campus offers and escape from the daily stresses of student life. Information about the Senior Gift campaign can be obtained at (858) 822-2540.