WSC Spring Commencement Ceremony to be Held May 7

Western will confer 293 bachelor’s degrees to graduates participating in the commencement ceremony.

Von Washington Jr., a 1990 WSC graduate and former Mountaineer basketball player, will present the commencement address. Washington made headlines last year as the principal of Kalamazoo Central High School in Michigan, which won the Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge in 2010, garnering a commencement speech by President Barack Obama. Washington is wrapping up his fourth year as principal at Kalamazoo Central. He has overseen an increase in graduation rates by 30 percent from his second to third year, helped in part by the “Kalamazoo Promise,” which provides privately supported scholarships for graduates who meet small stipulations. Since the introduction of the program in 2005, before Washington became principal, 91 percent of graduating seniors have gone to college.

Emily Donahue, of Idaho Springs, Colo., will present the student address. She majored in chemistry and will attend pharmacy school at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville this fall. An outstanding student, Donahue is graduating summa cum laude and received an Alumni Award for Excellence for her academic and service achievements.

Emily Donahue will present the commencement student address. Donahue is a chemistry major who is headed to pharmacy school this fall.

Paul Edwards, professor of communication and theatre, will serve as the commencement faculty marshal. Assistant faculty marshals are Cynthia Drexel, professor of business administration, and Al Caniff, professor of art.

As Western recognizes its 100th year of “educating educators,” education alumni have been invited to participate in the commencement exercises and will be recognized during the ceremony.

Commencement exercises will be streamed online at www.western.edu/graduation.