SU Graduates Largest Class at 79th Spring Commencement

SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University graduates 1,165—the largest class in its 79-year history—Thursday, May 20, during two commencement ceremonies at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center.

Senior economics and communication and theatre arts major Patrick Walsh is the speaker for the Franklin P. Perdue School of Business and Samuel W. and Marilyn C. Seidel School of Education and Professional Studies ceremony at 10 a.m. Walsh looks at the changes SU’s Class of 2004 has faced in the past four years and how he and his fellow graduates can make the world a better place in the future.

“When the war in Iraq was announced, it fragmented much of the media and the world, for that matter,” he says. “Though students here had many differing ideas and opinions on the subject, we were determined to not let them distract us from our true purpose, to become educated so that wars may be prevented in the future by a more educated global community.”

Senior political science and history major Eric Colvin speaks during the Charles R. and Martha N. Fulton School of Liberal Arts and Richard A. Henson School of Science and Technology ceremony at 2 p.m. Colvin asks students to remember what they learned and experienced at SU, including markers of historical significance.

“Remember where you were when you heard about the attacks on September 11, 2001,” he says. “Like our grandparents and Pearl Harbor, that is something we will never forget and will one day tell our grandchildren about. No one here has not been affected in some way by the horrible events on that day, and it is an important part of our college career that we should never forget.”

In the morning ceremony for SU’s two professional schools, 357 earn the Bachelor of Science, 53 the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and four the Bachelor of Arts. Among graduate programs, 33 earn the Master of Education, 31 the Master of Business Administration, 29 the Master of Social Work, eight the Master of Arts in Teaching and seven the Master of Science.

In the afternoon ceremony for arts and sciences, 408 earn the Bachelor of Arts, 213 the Bachelor of Science and nine the Bachelor of Fine Arts. Among graduate programs, eight earn the Master of Arts and five the Master of Science.

Admission to commencement is by ticket only. A reception follows in the Wicomico Room and Fireside Lounge of the Guerrieri University Center. Sponsored by the SU Alumni Association, the reception does not require tickets.

For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU Web site at www.salisbury.edu.