THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2009
2009 GRADUATION GUIDE 3C
ALUMNI
Ties to University don't end on graduation day
The flagphone in front of Strong Hall is corroded and leaking. It is being replaced as the 2009 class gift. Giving a class gift is one of the many traditions for graduating seniors.
Nora Simon/KANSAN
BY DANA MEREDITH dmeredith@kansan.com
Commencement day signifies for most graduates the end of their time as a student at the University and as a member of the Lawrence community. The Alumni Association wants recent graduates to know, however, that their time as a Jayhawk is by no means over after they walk down the hill and into Memorial Stadium.
"We help bridge the gap between being a student at the University and being an alumni; we want you to know that there's still a community out there for you, even if you're not on the Hill," said Aly Rodee, Wichita senior and former executive member of the Student Alumni Association. The SAA is an offshoot of the Alumni Association that helps with running programs and events.
Grad Grill will take place tonight from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Adams Alumni Center and features free food and drink, door prizes and information tables.
The Alumni Association attracts members in part by sponsoring year-end programs for recent graduates, such as Wieners for Seniors, a hot dog giveaway on Wesco Beach that is designed to advertise another Alumni Association event, Grad Grill.
GRAD GRILL
"It's the first event that students attend as alumni," said Stefani Gerson, coordinator of student programs for the Alumni Association. "It's a congratulatory event held in their honor, and it's free for all members of the Class of 2009."
**Who:** Graduating seniors
**What:** Free food and door prizes
**When:** 5:30 to 7:30 tonight
**Where:** Adams Alumni Center
After helping organize the event several times, Megan Lemon, Smithville, Mo., senior and former SAA executive member, will get to enjoy Grad Grill from the other side of things this year.
"This semester has been for me reaping the rewards of everything I did in the past," Lemon said. "It's nice; I appreciate it a lot more since I know what went into the preparation."
Rodee said she hoped Grad Grill would help students become more comfortable as alumni, in addition to providing a relaxing environment before finals. The Alumni
Center is known as the big scary building on campus that no one knows if they can come in to," Rodee said. "Grad Grill is to get people to the come to the center."
In addition to Grad Grill, the Alumni Association sponsors a ring ceremony, during which students receive class rings if they have purchased them. It also provides a free box lunch on the chancellor's lawn at 11 a.m. before commencement on May 17.
Beyond programs, the Alumni Association welcomes recent graduates into the alumni community
with a year's free membership to the Alumni Association, a $25 value sponsored by KU Endowment, and an opportunity to purchase a lifetime membership for half price.
"I will definitely take advantage of my free year's membership with the Alumni Association," Reuben Dermyer, Olathe senior, said. "I think it's a good idea, because I don't think a lot of recent grads will have the money to join the Alumni Association up front."
member of the senior advisory board for Board of Class Officers. Parents and friends of graduates can make donations on their behalf, as well.
Gerson said benefits of Alumni Association membership included a subscription to the Kansas Alumni Magazine, special discounts to events held around the country. access to an online directory for networking purposes, a monthly KU e-newsletter and a 10 percent discount at all KU bookstores.
2009 SENIOR CLASS GIFT
"The University said it needed a new flag pole," Rodee said. "It was something we could afford, and it would be visible, so that's how we chose the oirt."
Each year, the Board of Class Officers and Senior Advisory Board choose what contribution the graduating class will make to the University. This year, they will replace the flagpole outside of Strong Hall, which is corroded and leaning to the side.
Rodee said that the connections an Alumni Association membership provided were its most important advantages.
The KU Endowment helps fund the class gift by selling. Class of 2009 $10T-shirts, said Aly Rodee, Wichita senior and
To contribute, go to www.kuendowment.org/ seniorclassait.
"It connects you to over 300,000 other Jayhawks," Rodee said. "I might go to a city I've never been to before; that connection will be immeasurable in becoming part of the community there."
Gerson also stressed the importance of using the free membership to network and stay involved with University events.
"By being a member, you're helping the University as a whole by remaining a strong entity in the Jayhawk nation," Gerson said. "We want recent graduates to stay connected because that keeps the University strong."
Edited by Melissa Johnson
GRADUATION WEEKEND 2009
University of Kansas 2009 Commencement Schedule of Events
Friday, May 15
1 to 2 p.m. School of Social Welfare recognition for bachelor's of social welfare candidates. Lied Center.
2:30 to 4 p.m. International Programs and International Student and Scholar Services recognition. Kansas Room, Union.
4 to 6 p.m. School of Business undergraduate recognition ceremony Center
Saturday, May 16
8:30 a.m. School of Journalism graduate recognition, Lied Center. Reception follows, lawn of Stauffer-Flint Hall.
8:30 to 10 a.m. Reception for chancellor's awards recipients.
Kansas Room, Kansas Union.
9 a.m. School of Allied Health recognition ceremony, Johnson County Community College gymnasium, 12345 College Blvd., Overland Park.
10:30 a.m. to noon. Lun-
cheon for School of Allied Health,
health policy and management,
master's of public health, and
graduate graduates.
10:30 a.m. School of Fine Arts convocation. Lied Center.
11 a.m. School of Nursing recognition ceremony. Johnson County Community College gymnasium, 12345 College Blvd., Overland Park.
"Under the tent" at KU Edwards Campus, 12600 Quivira Rd., Overland Park.
12:30 to 2 p.m. Luncheon for School of Nursing graduates, family and friends. "Under the tent" at KU Edwards Campus, 12600 Quiville Rd., Overland Park
1 to 3 p.m. University Honors Program, University Scholars, and CLAS students graduating with distinction. Crafton-Preyer Theatre, Murphy Hall.
11 a.m. to noon, Phi Beta Kappa initiation, Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas Union.
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies graduation reception for master's candidates 318 Bailey Hall.
6 p.m. Office of Multicultural Affairs graduation banquet. Big 12 and Jayhawk rooms, Kansas Union.
1 to 3 p.m. School of Education convocation. Lied Center.
5 p.m. Multicultural Scholars Program graduation banquet.
Ballroom, Kansas Union.
6 to 7:30 p.m. School of Pharmacy senior recognition.
BYTHE NUMBERS
8 a.m. School of Engineering recognition and awards ceremony. Lied Center. Reception follows at Oliver Hall.
Crafton-Preyer Theatre, Murphy Hall. Reception follows.
7 p.m. School of Medicine hooding and awards. Lied Center.
10 to 11:15 a.m. School of Law hooding. Lied Center. Tickets required. Reception follows, Green Hall.
- 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Memorial Drive closed to traffic. (Parking ban begins midnight Satdav.)
2,700 Undergraduate degree recipients
Sunday, May 17
Below is a breakdown of the University's graduates by school, degree, and in-state and out-of-state
11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Class of 2009 commencement lunch. Chancellor's residence, 1532 Lilac Lane.
11:30 a.m. School of Architecture and Urban Planning commencement luncheon and recognition ceremony. Tickets required. Ballroom, Kansas Union
Noon to 1:15 p.m. School of Social Welfare hooding for master's of social work candidates. Lied Center.
1,058
2,767 In-state graduates
2 p.m. Commencement participants assemble on Memorial Drive
Graduate degree recipients
www.commencement.ku.edu
2:30 p.m. Commencement procession begins.
370
843 Students getting master's degrees
Out-of-state graduates
573 Students getting Ph.D.s or higher level degrees
2,241 Male graduates
1,834 Female graduates
Size of graduating class
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 1198 213
School of Allied Health 68 113
School of Architecture and Urban Planning 42 80
School of Business 330 120
School of Education 211 184
School of Engineering 193 69
School of Fine Arts 134 48
School of Journalism and Mass Communications 193 17
School of Nursing 149 17
School of Pharmacy 117 7
School of Social Welfare 65 147
School of Social Welfare 65
NOTE: Graduates from the schools of Law and Medicine are not included in the totals above.
School of Law 131
School of Medicine 155
— Michael Harry, technological support consultant in the University Registrar's Office
— Compiled by Rachel Schwartz
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