Media Contact:
Mick Kulikowski, 919/515-3470

Dec. 16, 2002

NC State University to Hold Fall Commencement Ceremonies

North Carolina State University will confer nearly 3,000 degrees on graduating students during its fall commencement exercises, beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, in the RBC Center.

Dr. James Goodnight, president, CEO and co-founder of SAS Institute, will deliver the commencement address. Goodnight received bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from NC State, and it is there that he began work on what would become SAS (Statistical Analysis System) software. He is a fellow of the American Statistical Association and author of several papers on statistical computing.

During the commencement ceremonies, NC State Chancellor Marye Anne Fox will confer on December graduates 2,995 degrees: 37 associates, 1,865 bachelor's, 854 master's, 235 doctoral and 4 doctor of veterinary medicine degrees. Thirty-seven valedictorians will be recognized for having earned perfect 4.0 grade point averages during their academic careers at NC State.

Chancellor Fox will also confer an honorary doctor of letters degree on Goodnight and on Thomas Karl, the director of the National Climatic Data Center.

NC State officials do not expect major traffic congestion, but advise attendees to be in their seats by 8:15 a.m. NC State's Faculty Brass Quintet will begin playing at 8:30 a.m., and graduates will march onto the arena floor at 9 a.m.

The arena is accessible from the Edwards Mill Road exit off the Wade Avenue Extension, and from Trinity Road. Ample free parking will be available around the arena. More commencement information is available online at www.ncsu.edu/reg_records/grad_inf.htm.

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Note to editors: Media seating will be provided near the front of the stage on the left-hand side. NC State News Services personnel will be available to assist reporters.