News Release
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May 2, 2005
BOISE STATE HOSTS SPRING COMMENCEMENT MAY 14
Boise State will host its 75th Commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 14, in Taco Bell Arena with President Bob Kustra officiating. Doors will open at 9 a.m. No tickets are needed for family and guests to attend.
Free parking will be available at all reserved and metered parking lots. Because of limited handicapped parking, family and friends who cannot walk to the Taco Bell Arena can be dropped off at the front of Entrance 1, where volunteers will assist them with elevators, etc., while drivers park their cars.
Deng Pufang will be presented with an honorary doctorate during the ceremony. Pufang, founder and president of the China Disabled Persons Federation and founder of the China Welfare Fund for Disabled Persons, was the first Chinese citizen and the first handicapped person to earn the United Nations Prize for Human Rights, which he received in 2003. An estimated 8.8 million disabled Chinese citizens have received rehabilitation services through organizations founded by Deng. Due to health concerns, Deng will not be able to attend the ceremony; a representative will accept the honorary doctorate on his behalf.
Approximately 1,100 students are expected to attend the ceremony. In all, 1,608 students have qualified for graduation since the December Commencement, earning a total of 1,699 degrees or certificates, including one doctoral degree and 219 master’s degrees. The ceremony will include two large screens that will broadcast the graduates accepting their degrees so that those sitting farther away from the stage will be able to see individual graduates up close.
On Friday, May 13, graduates and their families are invited to the graduation barbecue hosted by the Alumni Association. President Kustra, the university deans and the vice presidents will cook from noon-2 p.m. in the Student Union parking lot. Graduates receive two free tickets; additional tickets are $5 and can be purchased from the Alumni Association or at the Student Union Information Desk.
The celebration will feature live entertainment, children’s games, a jumphouse and other festivities. Also, take a spin on the Wheel of Games for a chance to win free prizes. For more information about the barbecue, contact the Boise State Alumni Association at 426-1698.
Media Contact: Kathleen Craven, University Relations, (208) 426-3275, kcraven@boisestate.edu
Online at: http://news.boisestate.edu
By Kathleen Craven
Boise State communications and marketing
Wanted: Volunteer announcers for Boise State University’s semiannual Commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. May 14 in the Taco Bell Arena. The successful candidate will stand on the edge of the stage and read aloud 1,100 names (first, last and occasionally middle) as graduates step forward to receive their diplomas. Names must be pronounced correctly, even if they contain no vowels or sound nothing like they look. And one more thing — you’ll only have a second or two to look at each name before proclaiming it out loud to 10,000 adoring friends and family members.
Sound intimidating? That’s exactly what Richard Klautsch, chair of the Theatre Arts Department and principal actor for the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, thought in 2000 when then-Boise State President Charles Ruch asked him to fill the job. Before then, names were read in small college groups by department chairs and deans who likely knew most of the graduates. This would be the first time in decades that the whole university would graduate together and Klautsch was overwhelmed by the task. So he did the natural thing — he brought his wife Ann, also a theatre professor and professional actress, into the fray. The pair have collectively been the “Voice of Commencement” ever since.
Not only do the couple get unfamiliar names from far-flung countries in Europe, Asia and beyond, they sometimes have to make snap judgments on ambiguous names such as Prouty (is it Prow-Tee, Proo-Tee, or something altogether different?).
“Sometimes the line will slow down and I’ll look [a graduate] in the eye and point to their difficult last name,” said Ann. “One time a girl leaned over and whispered, ‘Diane,’ but didn’t even mention the last name.”
And being rushed can lead to embarrassing mistakes if they’re caught off-guard. Richard recalls his first ceremony, when he glanced at a card and saw two initials and a last name. Before he could stop himself he had confidently announced, “I. M. Spartacus,” eliciting giggles from the audience and those guests seated on the stage.
Ann recalls an equally embarrassing moment when a helpful young woman named Noel had written her name out phonetically — “No” and “L” with an arrow pointing to the “L.” Ann assumed that meant the “L” was silent, and despite thinking that was odd, she read her name as “No.”
“We need to do a lot of mental editing,” she said, to figure out what students mean and to make sure they aren’t adding in “extras” such as the middle name of Budweiser (yes, it happens).
Despite all the pressure, after five years and 12,000 names, both Klautsches said they’re proud to be part of such an important moment in students’ lives, and to see, perhaps for one last time, a favorite student walk across the stage before heading off to new adventures.
They’re also glad for one other thing: “So far,” Richard said, “we haven’t had anyone get mad at us.”
The Office of Communications and Marketing
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Boise State University
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Boise Idaho 83725-1030
208-426-1577
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email newservices@boisestate.edu
Last reviewed on Thursday, December 22, 2005