| April 28, 2009 CONTACT: Dr. James Hallmark, 806-651-2044, jhallmark@wtamu.edu COPY BY: Rana McDonald, 806-651-2129, rmcdonald@wtamu.edu University's Spring Commencement Set for May 9 CANYON, Texas—West Texas A&M University will conduct its spring commencement in morning and afternoon ceremonies on Saturday, May 9 at the First United Bank Center. Diplomas will be awarded at 10 a.m. for students in the College of Agriculture, Science and Engineering, the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. At 3 p.m., diplomas will be awarded to students in the College of Business and the College of Education and Social Sciences. More than 790 students have applied for May graduation. The University’s commencement convocation is at 7 p.m. Friday, May 8 featuring Karl Rove, former deputy chief of staff and senior adviser to President George W. Bush. “Karl Rove will not speak on May 9. This is not an unusual arrangement for universities that have multiple diploma-awarding ceremonies,” Dr. James Hallmark, provost/vice president for academic affairs, said. “Dr. O’Brien (University president) will share some brief comments in the time normally filled by a commencement speaker during the diploma-awarding ceremonies.” Tickets for Rove’s May 8 convocation address will be available to the public after May 1 at the Amarillo Center, the First United Bank Center Box Office and at the Jack B. Kelley Student Center Information Desk. The event is free, but tickets are required. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. On Friday, May 8, the WTAMU Alumni Association will sponsor its traditional ring ceremony at 3:15 p.m. in the Happy State Bank Studio Theatre, followed by a graduation reception from 3-5 p.m. in the Grand Lobby of the Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex. West Texas A&M University conducts commencement ceremonies during the year, in December, May and August. —WTAMU— | 
