News Release
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December 21, 2005
Governor Kempthorne Addresses Boise State Grads
Boise State hosted its fifth winter Commencement ceremony Dec. 16 in the
Taco Bell Arena. The ceremony, with close to 550 graduates in attendance,
featured the largest doctoral class in school history.
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Graduate Deniza
Constantinescu |
In all, 1,306 students qualified for graduation since the May Commencement,
earning a total of 1,376 degrees or certificates. A total of 198 students
completed their programs with honors: 25 summa cum laude, 51 magna cum laude
and 122 cum laude. Eight students qualified to earn a doctorate (Ed.D.) in
curriculum and instruction, and six of those candidates received their
degrees at the ceremony: Ruth Hill Calnon, Megan Jones, JoAnne Lafferty,
Fernanda M. Morales, Laurie A. Wolfe and Debra L. Yates.
Graduates and their guests were honored to hear from Gov. Dirk Kempthorne,
whose daughter, Heather Myklegard, received a bachelor of science in health
promotion. Kempthorne commented on the high quality of a Boise State
education, and told graduates that not only was President Bob Kustra “one
America’s great university presidents,” but their diploma “denotes to anyone
in the world that you are a graduate of one of the finest institutions in
it. You can now compete with anyone in the world.”
Nancy Henke, an honor student and member of the 2005 national champion
speech and debate team, reminded her fellow graduates of the immense
privilege it is to be a college graduate. Only 1 percent of people around
the world are college graduates, she said, making it a profound privilege to
attend and graduate from an institution of higher education.
The ceremony was also a time to recognize retiring faculty members who
served the university for many years and have been recommended to receive
emeriti status. Four faculty members joined the ranks this year. They are:
Gary Arambarri, manager of the Center for Transportation and a senior
instructor; Peter Lichtenstein, professor of economics; Wanda Metzgar,
senior instructor of accounting technology; and Phillip Eastman, dean of the
College of Arts and Sciences.
Although outgoing Bronco football coach Dan Hawkins wasn’t in attendance, he
did receive high praise from Kustra, who noted the excellence of the
football program under Hawkins’ tenure. The team’s four Western Athletic
Conference titles not only brought honor to the university’s athletic
program, they also focused a spotlight on its academic excellence, he said.
Hawkins has accepted the head coaching position at the University of
Colorado in Boulder.
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Media Contact: Kathleen Craven, University Communications, (208)
426-3275, kcraven@boisestate.edu
Boise State University is the largest institution of higher education in
Idaho with about 18,600 students and 2,200 faculty and staff. More than 190
undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and technical degrees are offered within
eight colleges. A metropolitan university located in the capital city, Boise
State is committed to life-enhancing research, teaching excellence and
public service.
The Office of Communications and Marketing
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Boise State University
1910 University Drive -
Education Building, #726 -
Boise Idaho 83725-1030
208-426-1577
(fax)208-426-4001
email communications@boisestate.edu
Last reviewed on Wednesday, February 01, 2006