ORANGE COUNTY COMMENCEMENTS

Cal State Fullerton began its 30th annual commencement exercises Saturday. More than 5,500 students were expected to participate in 2 days of ceremonies, which will continue today.

On Saturday, commencement exercises took place for graduates in business administration and economics, in human development and community service, and in humanities and social sciences.

Today, commencement exercises will take place at noon for graduates in arts; at 2:30 p.m. for graduates in natural science and mathematics; at 5 p.m. for graduates in communications, and at 7:30 p.m. for graduates in engineering and computer science.

President Jewel Plummer Cobb, who is presiding over the exercises, on Saturday awarded the university’s first President’s Medallion to Brea resident Leo S. Shapiro, founding president of Continuing Learning Experience and co-chairman of a drive to raise $2.5 million for the Ruby Gerontology Center, the first privately funded building on campus. Today, Cobb will present an honorary doctorate of fine arts to Broadway director Jose Quintero, a distinguished artist in residence at the university since 1983, for his work in American theater.

Other Graduations:

Also today, Chapman College will have its annual commencement ceremonies at 3:30 p.m. in front of Memorial Hall on the campus in Orange, where degrees will be conferred on 441 students--including 310 undergraduates and 131 graduate students. An honorary degree will be awarded to the late film director Frank Capra.

Keynote speaker will be Andrea L. Van de Kamp, president and chief executive officer of Independent Colleges of Southern California.

Upcoming commencement exercises for area colleges include:

Cypress College at 6 p.m. Wednesday on the green outside the college gym, 9200 Valley View St., Cypress. Degrees will be conferred on 850 students.

Keynote speaker will be Donald Bedard, former administrator and faculty member.

Fullerton College at 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Fullerton Union High School District stadium, 201 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton. Degrees will be conferred on 1,500 students. Keynote speakers will include Diane Shubat and Amalia Runkel, both 1989 Women of Distinction recipients.

Coastline Community College at 7 p.m. June 9, at Newport Beach Center, 3101 Pacific View Dr. in Corona del Mar. Degrees will be conferred on 173 graduates. Also, 186 certificates of completion will be awarded. Keynote speaker will be state Sen. John Seymour (R-Anaheim).

UC Irvine will have three ceremonies at its 24th annual commencement on June 17 in Aldrich Park. Degrees will be conferred on 3,059 students, including 2,477 bachelor’s, 357 master’s, 130 doctoral and 95 medical. UCI Chancellor Jack W. Peltason will address the graduates at all ceremonies. In addition, a different graduating senior will speak at each ceremony.

A related convocation for honor students will take place at 7:30 p.m. June 16 in the Bren Events Center. The UCI Medal, the campus’ equivalent to an honorary degree, will be presented to Donald Bren, chairman of the board of the Irvine Co.; Richard Hausman, former vice chairman of Allergan Pharmaceuticals; UCI professor of chemistry Sherwood F. Rowland, and Howard Schneiderman, senior vice president of Monsanto Co.

Previous graduation ceremonies in Orange County include:

On May 18, associate of arts degrees were conferred on 111 students at Irvine Valley College, and 17 received associate of science degrees. The keynote speaker was author Maxine Hong Kingston.

On May 19, Rancho Santiago College conferred about 700 associate of arts and sciences degrees in ceremonies at the Santa Ana campus. Keynote speaker was history instructor Thomas J. Osborne.

On May 19, Saddleback College in Mission Viejo conferred associate of arts degrees on 726 students at its 20th annual commencement program. Keynote speaker was Assemblyman John Vasconcellos (D-Santa Clara).

On May 20, Christ College conferred bachelor of arts degrees on 81 students at the Irvine campus. Keynote speaker was Paul L. Maier, professor of ancient history at Western Michigan University.

On May 20, Southern California College in Costa Mesa conferred undergraduate degrees on 174 students and master’s degrees on 10 students. Keynote speaker was Dr. Robert Cooley, president of Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.

On May 24, Golden West College had its spring commencement ceremonies at the Huntington Beach campus. A total of 453 candidates were eligible for associate of arts degrees, and 200 earned certificates of achievement. Keynote speaker was California Secretary of State March Fong Eu.

On May 25, Orange Coast College conducted graduation ceremonies at the Costa Mesa campus, where 1,159 degrees were conferred. Keynote speaker was Leonard Olguin, professor at the Graduate School of Education at Cal State Long Beach.