To most people 13 is considered an unlucky number — but not to the 1,774 students statewide who make up University of Idaho’ s class of 2013. UI’s annual spring commencement will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the ASUI-Kibbie Dome, where thousands of people will gather for UI’s 117th commencement ceremony and honor this year’s graduating students. The commencement ceremony also marks the 50th anniversary of the first doctorate degrees awarded at UI.
“Three UI alumni, who were awarded UI’s first Ph.D. degrees, are coming back for the ceremony and will be honored during this year’s commencement,” said Dave Putensen, assistant registrar.
From the 1,774 students statewide who are graduating, a total of 1,845 degrees were earned — 1,438 of those from UI’s Moscow campus.
“Different levels of degrees from across the state include 1,264 baccalaureate degrees, 396 master’s and specialty degrees, 110 law and 75 doctoral degrees,” Putensen said.
1,463 students are expected to attend the ceremony Moscow, more than last year’s 2012 attendance of 1,356.
An estimated 10,250 guests will attend the ceremony, Putensen said, who predicted a 7 to 1 ratio of guests per graduate. If friends and family are not able to attend the ceremony they can watch it live at www.uidaho.edu/live. The doors at the Kibbie Dome will open at 8 a.m. where guests seat themselves at a first-come, first-serve availability.
The commencement address will be given by Vandal Alumni and TV/film producer Jim Lemley, who earned a Bachelor of Science in marketing from UI in 1988. Lemley has worked on various films such as “Triston and Isolde,” “Red Eye,” “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” “Braveheart” and more.
Directly following the ceremony each college will have a reception for graduates, guests, faculty and staff for refreshments, photo opportunities and congratulations from their professors. A separate Idaho Law ceremony will also be held after the main ceremony, Putensen said.
The Moscow ceremony is the last of four commencement ceremonies across Idaho. Degrees earned at Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho Falls and Boise/Twin Falls include students from summer ‘12 fall ‘12 and spring ‘13.
Putensen said on Wednesday the UI Boise and Twin Falls locations combined together for its commencement ceremony, which totaled 153 degrees earned and 80 graduates who attended. UI’s Idaho Falls ceremony was on Thursday, where students earned 73 degrees and 48 graduates attended.
UI’s Coeur d’ Alene’s graduation ceremony will take place on May 6, where a total of 181 degrees were earned and 107 students are expected to attend.
More information about all of the commencement ceremonies can be found at www.uidaho.edu/commencement.
Michelle Gregg can be reached at [email protected]