COMMENCEMENT 1990

A weekly roundup of Southland graduation ceremonies.

Cal State Long Beach

Cal State Long Beach held its 41st commencement with nine separate ceremonies on campus over a three-day period begining last Wednesday. Degrees were conferred on 6,496 graduates, with 5,521 receiving bachelor’s and 975 receiving master’s degrees.

* The Graduate Center for Public Policy and Administration held its commencement on Friday with U.S. Rep. Glenn M. Anderson (D-Harbor City) (UCLA, 1936), as its speaker. From his prepared text:

“Early in this century, only about 5% of our young people enrolled in institutions of higher education, and these were overwhelmingly of one race and one gender. Today about half of the generation between 18 and 25 are enrolled in colleges or universities. The majority of these are women--once largely excluded. A very substantial number are from minority groups. And whatever its shortcomings, and despite its critics, education, particularly higher education, remains the path to a better life and high achievement, particularly for those who are struggling to emerge from poverty and prejudice.”

D. Marilee Miller of Corona was the class valedictorian.

* The School of Fine Arts held its commencement Friday with Dean Wayne M. Sheley (Hartwick College, 1961), delivering the keynote address. Clay Wagstaff, an art major from Anaheim, was the valedictorian.

* The School of Natural Sciences on Friday featured Eleanor F. Helin, nplanetary scientist at Caltech’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as its keynote speaker. Andrea J. Freedman, a zoology major from South Laguna, was the valedictorian.

* The School of Business Administration held its commencement Thursday, with Jane J. Netherton, president and chief executive officer of International City Bank, as the keynote speaker. Leslie Anne Huff, a finance, real estate and law major from Huntington Beach, was the valedictorian.

* The School of Social and Behavioral Sciences held its commencement Thursday with George McKenna III (Xavier University, 1961), superintendent of the Inglewood Unified School District, as the keynote speaker. The valedictorian was Rosalia Rodriguez-Mattern, a political science major from Anaheim.

* The Graduate School of Education on Thursday featured Dean John Sikula (Hiram College, 1966), as the keynote speaker. Douglas E. Volding, an educational administration major, was the valedictorian.

* The School of Humanities’ ceremony on Wednesday featured Virginia Warren (Marymount College, 1960), acting dean of the school, as the keynote speaker. Jennifer Yee, a journalism major from Cerritos, was the valedictorian.

* The School of Engineering held its commencement Wednesday with Richard Williams (Georgia Tech, 1962), dean of the School of Engineering, as the keynote speaker. Thomas Vorndran, a mechanical engineering major from Redondo Beach, was the valedictorian.

* The School of Applied Arts and Sciences held its commencement Wednesday; Dean Donald Lauda (Wayne State College, 1963) was the speaker. Michele Beckman, a nursing major from Westminster, was valedictorian.

West Coast University

West Coast University held its 41st commencement Saturday. Master’s degrees were conferred on 350 graduates. Robert H. Hood Jr. (University of Pittsburgh, 1954), president of Douglas Aircraft Co., delivered the keynote address. From his prepared text:

“Don’t be a bystander. You can be part of a massive resurgence in this country. The challenges are formidable, and you’ll carry a responsibility for yourselves and your employer. But you’ll have the opportunity to make your mark--and no one can ask for more. There is no reason for this country to be in second or third place in technology or manufacturing capability. But we have to stop the erosion in the classroom and the factory.” Looking Ahead

Cal Poly Pomona will hold its 34th commencement on campus at Kellogg Field at at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, with Assemblywoman Teresa Hughes (D-Los Angeles) as keynote speaker.

Cal State Los Angeles will hold its 43rd commencement at 9:45 a.m. Saturday at the university’s stadium, with U.S. Rep. Henry B. Gonzalez (D-Tex.) as keynote speaker. Garfield High School math teacher Jaime Escalante will receive an honorary degree.

Occidental College will hold its 103rd commencement ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the Remsen Bird Hillside Bowl on campus. W. Ann Reynolds, former chancellor of the California State University system and newly appointed chancellor of City University of New York, will speak. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Jack Kemp will receive an honorary degree.

Loma Linda University will hold three commencements, beginning Thursday with the Graduate School’s ceremony. Roy Branson, senior research fellow at the Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Georgetown University, will speak to the graduate school at 7:30 p.m. at the University Church on campus. Elder Randall Roberts, chaplain at the Loma Linda University Medical Center, will speak to the School of Nursing at 10 a.m. Friday at the University Church. The College of Fine Arts and Sciences, School of Business and Management, and School of Education will hold their commencements at 8:30 a.m. Sunday at the Riverside Campus Mall with Winton H. Beaven, assistant to the president, Kettering Medical Center, as keynote speaker. The School of Allied Health Professions will hold its commencement at 1 p.m. Sunday at the University Church, with Elder Roland R. Hegstad, associate director at the International Religious Liberty Assn., as keynote speaker.