Survivors guide to graduation

By Megan Zlatohlavek - Staff Writer

An estimated 430 students will be celebrating the end of their undergraduate careers on May 17 at the US Cellular Center during Mount Mercy’s 2008 Commencement Ceremony.

This year Kathleen Kennedy Townsend will be giving the commencement speech to honor this year’s graduates.

Another speaker at the ceremony will be Greg Blythe, a graduating biology major, who was chosen by a faculty committee as this year’s student speaker.

The ceremony is expected to take an hour and a half. Students who are graduating do not need to purchase tickets for family and friends who wish to attend. Anyone is welcome to attend.

After the graduation ceremony, all are invited to join the class of 2008 for a reception at Mount Mercy College.

“About 1,300 people show up to the commencement party,” said Terra Bracy, Executive Secretary for the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services.

There will be clowns who make balloon animals for kids, artists that doing caricature drawings for free, and a picnic style lunch. The party is held outside between Busse Library and Regina Hall in large tents.

“It has never rained on the day of this event, and the sisters always pray for no rain,” said Bracy. If it does rain the party will be moved into Busse Library.

For a full schedule of graduation events, visit Mount Mercy’s web site at www.mtmercy.edu.