The 2016 Commencement takes place on Bellarmine Lawn and begins at 9:30 a.m. with the undergraduate ceremony, followed by the graduate ceremony at 3 p.m.
The total numbers of expected degrees to be awarded are: 1,030 Bachelor's, 423 Master's, 16 6th Year Certificates, and 27 Doctorates.
Honorary degrees will also be bestowed on both speakers and three other recipients: Julio Ramirez ‘77, Don Gummer and Sr. Maureen Flemming, SSND.
Orobator, principal and president of the Jesuit School of Theology and Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations in Nairobi, Kenya, will speak at the undergraduate ceremony, where he will receive his honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
Bigelow, who works with teens in Appalachia to rebuild homes, will be speaking at the graduate ceremony where she will be receiving her honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
Additional Honorary Degree recipients are the following:
- Julio Ramirez, ’77, Ph.D., Doctor of Science. Ramirez was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring by President Barack Obama, the Award for Education in Neuroscience from the Society for Neuroscience, and the Distinguished Mentor Award from the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience.
- Don Gummer, Doctor of Humane Letters. Gummer is a modern sculptor and Connecticut local. His largest exhibition ever is currently on display at Fairfield University’s Walsh Art Gallery at the Quick Center for the Arts.
- Maureen Flemming, SSND, Doctor of Laws. Fleming, of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, is currently the coordinator of Pastoral Outreach Activities at St. Luke’s Parish in Westport.
More than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 36 states, 47 foreign countries, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are enrolled in the University’s five schools.
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