YSU commencement is Saturday

YOUNGSTOWN — More than 1,000 students will receive diplomas at Youngstown State University commencement ceremonies Saturday in Beeghly Center.

There will be two events, with undergraduate students receiving diplomas at 10 a.m., and graduate students celebrating graduation at 2:30 p.m.

Constantine William Curris, president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, will speak at the morning ceremony.

He has been president of AASCU since 1999. AASCU is a national higher education association of more than 400 public colleges and universities. Curris previously served as president of Clemson University, Northern Iowa University and Murray State University.

Janet DelBene, YSU professor emeritus in chemistry and an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow, will be the featured speaker at the afternoon ceremony.

DelBene, a Mahoning Valley native and a YSU graduate, retired from teaching in 1999 but has continued pursuing her research interests on hydrogen bonds. In 2007, she reached a significant milestone — the publication of her 200th scientific paper, believed to be the most ever by a YSU faculty member.

Student speakers for the undergraduate ceremony are Jennifer Houston and Hannah Vinsel.

Houston, a honors student with a 4.0 grade point average, will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in art education and a bachelor’s degree in art history. Vinsel, a 2008–09 Beeghly College of Education Dean’s Dozen honoree, will receive a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education.

Molly Ceci will be the student speaker at afternoon graduate commencement.

Ceci, a member of the Ohio Education Association and the Council for Exceptional Children, will graduate with a master’s degree in education as an intervention specialist.

Special arrangements have been made for commencement parking.

All parking on campus will be free, but, due to construction, Spring Street off of Fifth Avenue is closed, and Beeghly Center won’t be accessible via Spring Street.

Commencement visitors are encouraged to park in the decks on Wick Avenue and Lincoln Avenue.

Parking for handicapped individuals will be in the R1 lot located on Elm Street across from the Lyden/Cafaro residence halls. Shuttles will be provided to Beeghly Center. To access the handicapped lot from the Madison Avenue Expressway, take the Wick Avenue exit and follow the signs to the R1 lot.