Two ceremonies will ease graduation stress

Graduation commencement exercises at Prairie View A&M University have had a series of changes. From the early 70s to the late 80s it was just one service for the undergraduates, graduates, and the military. Then, in the 90s it changed to three separate commencement services. A morning service for the commission of the army, navy and military, an afternoon service for the graduate students and an evening service for the undergraduates. This year graduation commencement exercises are no longer three separate services. Instead it's sectioned off by schools in morning and afternoon services.

Previous commencement guest speakers are former President George H.W. Bush and Dr. Alvin I. Thomas who was Prairie View A&M University's third president from 1966 to 1982.

This year's rehearsal for commencement exercises will be held on Friday, Dec. 10, at 8:30 a.m. in the William "Billy" Nicks, Sr. Health & Physical Education Building.

Commencement exercises for the Graduate School, College of Agriculture and Human Sciences, School of Architecture, College of Juvenile Justice and Psychology and the College of Nursing will be held Saturday, Dec. 11, at 10 a.m. in the William "Billy" Nicks, Sr. Health & Physical Education Building. Candidates are advised to report at 9 a.m. for the 10 a.m. commencement convocation.

Commencement exercises for the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the College of Education and the College of Engineering will be held Saturday, Dec. 11, at 3 p.m.. in the William "Billy" Nicks Building. Candidates are advised to report at 2 p.m. for the 3 p.m. commencement convocation.

This years guest speaker will be Dr. Evelyn E. Thornton. Thornton is a professor of mathematics at Prairie View A&M University. She served as head of the Department of Mathematics for 13 years. She is coordinator of graduate programs in the College of Arts and Sciences, and director of the Undergraduate Research Institute for talented students in mathematics. Thornton is a graduate of Texas Southern University and the University of Houston. Some of her honors and achievements include Outstanding Educator of America in 1972, Who's Who Among Women in Science in 1980, Prairie View Distinguished Honorary Alumna in 1988 and the first Eta Falconer Excellence in Mathematics Teaching Award.