by Scott Harvey
Staff Writer
Students from undergraduate and graduate programs, adorning caps and gowns, will participate in the University of La Verne commencement events, which will conclude May 23.
This year’s commencement is coordinated by Associate Dean of Student Affairs Ruby Montaño-Cordova and includes several events, starting Thursday, May 21, with the Annual May Reception for ’98 Grads and Law Alumni.
During the course of finals next week, or on Saturday, May 23, from 2-4 p.m, students can pick up their caps and gowns in the Old Gymnasium.
The actual graduation services will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, with the annual Baccalaureate service held at the Church of the Brethren in La Verne, and will feature a speech by Rev. Dr. George F. Regas.
Regas, a well-known speaker and rector of All Saints Episcopalian Church in Pasadena for 28 years, will deliver what Teresa Bader-Hull, director of general education, calls “a message concerning peace and justice issues.”
“In our selection of a Baccalaureate speaker we try to get someone who has the same kind of goals as our mission and he [Regas] shows that,” said Bader-Hull. “Regas has diversity in his life and in his work and that is a common virtue among our successful alumni.”
Following Baccalaureate, the undergraduate ceremonies start Sunday, May 24 at 7 a.m. with the Commencement Breakfast Fest at Davenport Dining Hall. Following the breakfast, 1998 graduates will commence at 8:30 a.m. and the service will continue through the afternoon.
The featured commencement speaker this year will be a 1969 ULV alumnus David Krasnow. Krasnow has a long line of credits to his name, including graduating Cum Laude from Southern California College of Optometry in 1973.
Krasnow, a licensed optometrist in California, Arizona and Florida, has made an impact internationally through his work as a vision consultant.
“Mr. Krasnow has literally made an impact on thousands of people internationally by bringing them vision services,” said Montaño-Cordava.
“Bob Neher, one of our professors of biology, suggested Krasnow to the selection committee. We thought that he really did exemplify the qualities we strive for in our university mission and he was chosen,” she said.
The remainder of the events on Sunday will take place first at the Sheraton Suites Fairplex in Pomona with the Educational Doctorate Hooding ceremony at 11:30 a.m., will continue at 1 p.m. with the College of Law Hooding located at the La Verne Church of the Brethren and will conclude after the Graduate commencement at 4 p.m.
Although weather concerns are keeping Montaño-Cordova nervous about the commencement ceremonies she was quick to say that “we will go forward with all events possible, despite the weather.”
