VANCOUVER, Wash. – Washington State University Vancouver will graduate a record 979 students at its 2012 commencement ceremony at 1 p.m. May 12 at the Sleep Country Amphitheater. Karen Schmaling, vice chancellor for academic affairs, will preside over the ceremony. Washington State Supreme Court Justice Steven C. González will give the keynote address. 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø will present five special awards during the ceremony.
BACKGROUND ON THE CLASS OF 2012
The graduating class of 2012 is represented by nine doctoral candidates in the areas of education, American studies and psychology.
The 121 master’s candidates will receive degrees in accounting, business administration, computer science, education, environmental science, history, mechanical engineering, nursing, public affairs and teaching.
The remaining 849 bachelor’s candidates will receive degrees in anthropology, biology, business administration, computer science, criminal justice, digital technology and culture, education, electrical engineering, English, environmental science, history, human development, humanities, mechanical engineering, nursing, political science, psychology, public affairs, science, social sciences or sociology.
This is the first graduating class to include electrical engineering bachelor’s candidates. This marks a significant milestone in the growth of 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø and the School of Engineering and Computer Science. Of the 11 electrical engineering graduates, some will go on to graduate school and several have already landed jobs at local technology companies.
AWARDS AND HONORS
2012 Chancellor’s Award for Student Achievement
Dora Hernandez never viewed a four-year university as an option for continuing her education. As a mother of two who worked to support her family, Dora transferred to 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø only after a Clark College faculty member encouraged her to apply for scholarships. Since arriving at 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø, Dora has positioned herself as a trailblazer of on-campus involvement and community outreach and as an advocate for both minority empowerment and academic excellence.
In her time at 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø, Dora has left an indelible mark on campus by acting as founder and president of the Latin@ Student Association, a student organization that has provided leadership opportunities for Latina/Latino students on campus. She also has worked to increase student awareness of financial aid and scholarship opportunities through helping plan the FAFSA Feed and Scholarship Fair and by co-leading the College Goal Sunday Washington event.
2012 Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence
Each year the Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence is bestowed upon a 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø faculty member whose research quality and quantity is exemplary and whose work has had a positive influence on the community. Christine Portfors, associate professor in the School of Biological Sciences, works with mice and bats to understand how complex sounds are processed by the auditory system and to determine how age-related hearing loss impacts this processing.
Portfors’ scholarly record and international reputation is outstanding. She has published 36 articles in leading, scientific journals and has given more than 40 presentations at national and international scientific conferences. In 2011, Portfors was an invited speaker at the International Bioacoustics Congress in La Rochelle, France and the Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Her impact on the educational community has enhanced 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø’s reputation as the institution to look to for cutting-edge research in the fields of neuroscience and biology.
2012 Chancellor’s Awards for Service to 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø (two awards)
1. Leslie Wykoff
Leslie Wykoff served more than 16 years at 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø before retiring as library director in 2011. Wykoff was chosen as a 2012 recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Service to Washington State University Vancouver for her outstanding service, demonstrated leadership and gifts of time, talent and resources toward advancing the university’s mission.
About six months after Wykoff joined 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø, she was asked by Chancellor Emeritus Hal Dengerink to manage information technology and the Washington High Educations Telecommunications System in addition to the library. Wykoff also worked diligently to procure world-class access to scholarly databases for faculty, students and everyone else who used the library. She collaborated with WSU libraries, the Portland area library system and Orbis Cascade library consortia to build the database.
Wykoff’s legacy will continue to advance the mission of the 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Library and the campus as a whole.
2. Clark County Community High Technology Council
The Clark County Community High Technology Council has heavily influenced the growth of the School of Engineering and Computer Science at 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø. The CCCHTC encouraged state legislators and the business community to allocate stimulus funds to build the Engineering and Computer Science building at 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø. Their leadership in voicing their support was heard by Governor Chris Gregoire, who selected the building to receive capital funding. This facility, which opened for classes in January, was one of only two WSU projects to receive such funding in 2009.
The CCCHTC continues to take a leadership role in strengthening 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø’s engineering degree program. The council recently made a lead gift of $25,000 to underwrite an electrical engineering computer laboratory in the Engineering and Computer Science building. The council’s contribution will help provide quality training for 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø engineering students and, in turn, provide a larger, stronger pool of local, skilled workers from which high-tech companies may hire.
2012 Students’ Award for Teaching Excellence
Wei Xue, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, is the 2012 recipient of the Students’ Award for Teaching Excellence. Nominated by his students and selected by a committee of students from various disciplines, Xue was chosen for his ability to inspire students, exceeding educational expectations and his dedication to furthering research at 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø.
Working in the area of micro/nano electromechanical systems, biosensors and semiconductor microfabrication, Xue motivates his students to reach beyond the requirements of the classroom. His students describe his classes as challenging courses that produce valuable academic returns for those willing to devote their time and energy. Thanks to his ability to take motivated individuals and guide them in their research, Xue’s students leave his classes with invaluable firsthand experience. He believes in allowing students to build a reputation at 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø before their graduate studies begin, as reflected by the handful of scholarly articles co-authored by Xue and his students.
With his passion for research, dedication to students, and commitment to providing integral career and graduate study opportunities, Xue inspires those around him one nanometer at a time.
Commencement Details
The Sleep Country Amphitheater is located at 17200 NE Delfel Road, Ridgefield. Parking and gates open at 11 a.m. on commencement day. The seating area opens at 11:30 a.m. Concessions will be available. Commencement is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required.
The Sleep Country Amphitheater is a covered outdoor venue. Please be aware that umbrellas are not allowed in the venue. Golf cart and wheelchair service will be provided to guests who need assistance. Accommodations for deaf and hearing-impaired guests will be available. Sign language interpreters will be on hand in a designated area and amplification devices will be available at the information booth.
More information about 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø’s 2012 commencement ceremony can be found at:
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MEDIA CONTACT
Brenda Alling, Office of Marketing and Communications, 360-546-9601, brenda_alling@vancouver.wsu.edu