University Times

By mid-June, after all the confetti and silly string have been swept away, Pitt will have conferred about 6,750 degrees and certificates this year to students at the University's five campuses.

An estimated 2,000 students attended and received their undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees at Pitt's 1997 commencement, April 27 at the Civic Arena. Allan Bromley, Yale University dean of engineering and former Assistant to the President of the United States for Science and Technology, was the main speaker.

Several Pitt schools and regional campuses will honor their graduating students at upcoming ceremonies:

* The Bradford campus will hold its convocation ceremony May 3 at 11 a.m. in the Tom L. McDowell Sports Center. The speaker will be John Rigas, founder, CEO and president of Adelphia Communications Corp. and principal owner of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres.

* Dennis Roddy, a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette staff writer and 1976 Johnstown campus alumnus, will deliver the main address at the campus's commencement ceremony, May 3 at 2 p.m. in the Pitt-Johnstown Sports Center.

* The School of Medicine diploma day ceremony is set for May 19 at 10 a.m. at Carnegie Music Hall.

* U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno is scheduled to address graduating Pitt law students at the School of Law's commencement ceremony, May 24 at 2 p.m. in Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall.

* The School of Dental Medicine will hold its diploma ceremony June 6 at 2:30 p.m. in Soldiers and Sailors. Following the ceremony, the school's alumni association will sponsor a reception on the Cathedral of Learning lawn.

* Speaking at the Katz Graduate School of Business graduation ceremony will be Jerry Kalov, president and CEO of Cobra Electronics Corp. The event is scheduled for June 15 at 2 p.m. at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

The Titusville campus held its first-ever graduation ceremony April 26. The featured speaker was Yolanda G. Barco, a former member of the campus advisory board and a charter member of Pitt's Board of Trustees. Board chairperson J. Wray Connolly spoke at the Greensburg campus graduation ceremony, also on April 26.

Other Pitt schools honored their graduates at a variety of receptions, breakfasts, luncheons, brunches and diploma-awarding ceremonies last weekend.