HIGHER EDUCATION Westminster will hold ceremony next weekend

The three speakers will receive honorary degrees.
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- More than 340 students are expected to receive diplomas Saturday during the 151st annual Westminster College commencement ceremonies.
The 2004-05 academic year will conclude with a baccalaureate service at 10:30 a.m. in Orr Auditorium and commencement at 2:30 p.m. on the Senior Terrace of Old Main.
The Rev. David G. Dawson, executive presbyter for the Shenango Presbytery, will speak about "Continuing the Journey/The Cost of Living" at the baccalaureate.
The service will feature three speakers who will share with the graduates after receiving their honorary degrees.
Honorary degrees
Dr. Jerry M. Boone, senior consultant for Sims & amp; Steele Consulting, will receive an honorary doctor of public service. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina, his master's from the University of Alabama and his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina.
He has served as a high school English teacher in Mobile, Ala., dean of student affairs and associate professor of English at Pfeiffer College, dean of student affairs and interim president of Westminster College, and president of Ferrum College.
Boone lives in North Carolina with his wife, Shirley. They have two children and three grandchildren.
Jack B. Hoey, retired president and CEO of The Peoples Natural Gas Co., will receive an honorary doctor of public service. A graduate of the College of William and Mary, he continued his studies at the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State University, Columbia University, Harvard University and the American Management Association. He was chairman of the Westminster board of trustees from 1984-87.
Hoey and his wife of 50 years, Mary Jane, reside in North Carolina and have six children and 21 grandchildren.
Mabel Kocher, retired associate professor, librarian emerita and curator of special collections at Westminster College, will receive an honorary doctor of literature.
She earned her undergraduate degrees from Westminster College and Carnegie Library School, and her master's in library science from Western Reserve University. She served as a substitute teacher in various schools, an assistant librarian in the Sewickley Public Library, and then at Westminster's McGill Library from 1942 until she retired in 1975.
Kocher resides at the Shenango on the Green in New Wilmington.
The class of 2005 has chosen Sandra Edmiston, an English major from New Wilmington, as the senior class speaker. She is a daughter of John and Kathleen Edmiston and a graduate of Wilmington Area High School.
In case of rain, ceremonies will be at the Memorial Field House. Contact the Academic Dean's Office at (724) 946-7122 for more information.