Graduates ready, excited for commencement

Correction: A story that ran in Wednesday’s Graduation edition of The Student Printz about the 2009 graduation ceremonies contained incorrect information. The article below contains correct information. The Student Printz regrets the error.

   USM 2009 graduates may be ready for the real world or scared to death. But whatever the emotion, spring 2009 graduation ceremonies are scheduled for May 8 and 9.

   “I’m glad I’m graduating and that the last four years are about to pay off,” said Richard Franks, a sports management major. “I wouldn’t want to be graduating from any other college.”

   USM will confer more than 1,700 undergraduate and graduate degrees in Hattiesburg and Biloxi during three commencement ceremonies concluding the 2008-09 academic year. Approximately 1,471 students are candidates for graduation on the Hattiesburg campus in two ceremonies Friday, May 8 in Reed Green Coliseum, according to information in a USM news release.

   The Colleges of Business, Science and Technology, and Education and Psychology will participate in a 10 a.m. ceremony, while the Colleges of Arts and Letters and Health will participate in a 3 p.m. ceremony. Students from University Libraries and the Honors College will graduate in both ceremonies.

   “I am looking forward to graduating,” said Michael Felter, a construction major, adding he’s ready to “just get out into the real world, conquer new challenges and start making money.”

   Graduation exercises for approximately 256 students at Southern Miss Gulf Coast are slated for 10 a.m., Saturday, May 9 in the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi. Southern Miss Gulf Coast will award an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree to coast businessman and community leader Jerry St. Pé.

   St. Pé joins a short list of honorees, becoming only the fifth individual to receive such recognition from the university.

   “Mr. St. Pé has been a vital force in developing, building and rebuilding his community on the Gulf Coast,” said Southern Miss President Martha Saunders. “He continues to inspire and drive success in himself and others, building a legacy of generosity and goodwill through civic work and simple kindness.”

   St. Pé, a resident of Pascagoula, is former president of Ingalls Shipbuilding and retired executive vice president of Litton Industries.

   Southern Miss has awarded only four other honorary degrees: Healthcare executive David Fine in 2007, Mississippi politician Evelyn Gandy in 2001, the Rev. Will Davis Campbell in 1999, and benefactress Oseola McCarty in 1998.

   Speaker for the Gulf Coast ceremony is Maj. Gen. Paul F. Capasso, former commander of the 81st Training Wing at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi. He is currently director of Command, Control, Communications and Computer Systems, U.S. Africa Command in Stuttgart, Germany. A 1985 graduate of Southern Miss, Capasso holds a master of science degree in teleprocessing science. He received a bachelor of science degree in behavioral science in 1978 from the U.S. Air Force Academy.

   In Hattiesburg, publishing company executive and Southern Miss alumnus William R. Phalen will speak at both ceremonies. Phalen is CEO and chairman of Cities West Publishing Inc. of Scottsdale, Ariz. Founded in 1997 by Mr. Phalen, the company produces shelter and city magazines and directories for the Southwestern United States.

   He received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Southern Miss and is a member of the Hall of Fame for both the Southern Miss Alumni Association and the School of Mass Communication and Journalism. He also is a member of the School’s advisory board.

   All Southern Miss graduation ceremonies are open to the public, and doors will be open approximately one hour before exercises are scheduled to begin. All university and Coast Coliseum parking lots will be open to the public. Families and guests are urged to arrive in time to be seated at least 15 minutes in advance for the start of the program.

   A live-streaming webcast of the Hattiesburg ceremonies will be available via the university’s Web site at www.usm.edu. Click on the “Commencement” link for more information.

-John Adam Hackney contributed to this report