Lafayette will grant 640 degrees to 616 graduating seniors at the College's 175th Commencement Today

Lafayette will grant 640 degrees to 616 graduating seniors at the College's 175th Commencement on Saturday, May 22. The processional will begin at 2:15 p.m. with the program starting at 2:30 p.m.

The event will feature an address by award-winning TV journalist Joan Lunden and remarks by Father Thomas J. Hagan, O.S.F.S., former Catholic chaplain at Lafayette and the founder of the humanitarian organization Hands Together in Haiti. The organization has been very active in relief efforts following the recent earthquake that devastated Haiti.

Also scheduled for Saturday is a Baccalaureate service with a sermon by Varun Soni, dean of religious life at University of Southern California, at 10:30 a.m.

Both the Baccalaureate and Commencement ceremonies will be held on the Quad. In case of rain, they will be held in Allan P. Kirby Sports Center.

Four honorary degrees will be awarded. President Daniel H. Weiss will award Lunden the honorary degree of Doctor of Journalism and Hagan the honorary degree of Doctor of Public Service. Also receiving honorary degrees will be alumnus Edward W. Ahart Jr., incoming chair of the Board of Trustees and managing partner and chairman of the law firm of Schenck, Price, Smith & King, Florham Park, N.J. (Doctor of Laws), and Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834), the champion of freedom and leader in the American and French revolutions for whom Lafayette College is named (Doctor of Public Service, posthumously).

Graduating senior Michael Adelman will deliver farewell remarks for the class of 2010. He is the recipient of Lafayette' George Wharton Pepper Prize, awarded to the senior who "most closely represents the Lafayette "ideal." Adelman, of Clarks Summit, Pa., will graduate with a B.S. in civil engineering. The first students to receive their diplomas will be Adelman, Michael Hadley (Somerville, N.J.), and Sarah Kolba (Chelmsford, Mass.) who have achieved the highest cumulative grade-point average in the class. Hadley will receive an A.B. with a self-designed major in cognitive science. Kolba will receive an A.B. with a self-designed major in Medieval and Renaissance studies. Teevrat Garg, Kelly Hilovsky, and Ian Stone, co-chairs of the Class of 2010 Gift Committee, will present the class gift. Garg (Haryana, India), will receive a B.S. in mathematics and an A.B. with a major in economics and business. Hilovsky (Douglassville, Pa), will receive a B.S. in neuroscience. Stone (Lebanon, N.H.) will receive an A.B. with a major in psychology.

Weiss will congratulate the recipients of annual Lafayette awards for distinguished teaching, scholarship, and service to the College. He will also recognize Dan Bauer, professor of anthropology and sociology and director of Lafayette's Technology Clinic, who is retiring and has been elected to emeritus status. Alan R. Griffith, chair of Lafayette's Board of Trustees, will recognize retiring trustee Nancy B. Lund. Weiss will also recognize Griffith, who is stepping down as chair but will remain a member of the Board. Weiss will confer degrees upon the graduates and will deliver farewell remarks to the seniors. Assisting in presenting diplomas will be Susan Niles, professor of anthropology and clerk of the faculty, and Hannah W. Stewart-Gambino, dean of the College. Guy L. Hovis, John H. Markle Professor of Geology, the faculty member who is senior in the rank of full professor, will lead the academic procession as Bearer of the Mace. James F. Krivoski, vice president for student affairs, will marshal the class of 2010. Wendy L. Hill, provost and dean of the faculty, will march at the head of the faculty. Trustee Emeritus Mark B. Weisburger will lead the trustees and the platform party. John Colatch, College chaplain and director of religious life, will deliver the invocation and give the benediction. Emily Wilkins, visiting director of choral activities, will lead the singing of "America the Beautiful." Members of the Lafayette Choir, led by Wilkins, will lead the singing of "The Alma Mater."

Local graduates include:

Lehigh Valley

Allentown - Kristen Nicole Jones, A.B. Economics & Business/Anthropology and Sociology (double major), summa cum laude Stephen Richard Lockett, B.S. Electrical Engineering Matthew Ryan Melly, A.B. Government & Law Bethlehem - Laura M. Bochner, B.S. Geology, summa cum laude, honors in geology & environmental geosciences Robert Phillips Gordon, A.B. Biology/International Affairs (double major) Steven T. Jones, A.B. Biochemistry/English (double major), summa cum laude John Paul Mikitsh, B.S. Electrical & Computer Engineering Caitlyn Marie Myles, B.S. Mechanical Engineering Jacqueline Daniela Parodi, B.S. Civil Engineering Marie R. Stavrovsky, A.B. Psychology/Art (double major), cum laude Brad Matthew Weiss, A.B. Policy Studies

Easton - Brian D. Apgar Jr., B.S. Chemical Engineering Christopher Chartier-Cotter, B.S. Civil Engineering Jason Matthew Jones, B.S. Mechanical Engineering Amanda Marie Leone, A.B. Government & Law/Art (double major), honors in government & law Matthew Jeremy Lick, B.S. Mechanical Engineering David Scott Lyttle, A.B. Art, cum laude, honors in art Michael E. Pellegrino, A.B. English Kevin Rush, A.B. Economics & Business Margaret Katherine Schaffer, A.B. English/Art (double major) Kira Lynne Varela, B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Alburtis - Colin Hansen, B.S. Chemical Engineering Catasauqua - Nicholas Nathan Ferenchak, A.B. Engineering, cum laude Kyle David Reichl, B.S. Chemistry, summa cum laude, honors in chemistry Nazareth - LeighAnne N. Does, A.B. English/Spanish (double major), summa cum laude Schnecksville - Jeffrey Andrew Shoemaker, B.S. Civil Engineering, summa cum laude Whitehall - Lauren H. Longenecker, A.B. Art/Economics & Business (double major), magna cum laude, honors in art

Berks County Bethel - Jayne Catharine Miller, A.B. Policy Studies, magna cum laude Blandon - Mathew David Pezon, B.S. Chemical Engineering/A.B. Spanish (dual degrees), cum laude Boyertown - Kelly Ann McGrath, A.B. Mathematics/Engineering (double major), cum laude Douglassville - Kelly Marie Hilovsky, B.S. Neuroscience, cum laude Leesport - Lucas Rearden Zmroczek, B.S. Electrical & Computer Engineering, summa cum laude, honors in electrical & computer engineering Reading - Aaron M. Lampley, B.S. Electrical & Computer Engineering Bach Tuyet Thi Nguyen, A.B. Economics & Business Nhu-Trinh Thi Tran, B.S. Biology Wyomissing - Elizabeth Rachel Hall, A.B. Art/English (double major)

Bucks County Bensalem - Luke Anthony Trovato, A.B. English, cum laude Chalfont - Meredith A. Castor, A.B. History, summa cum laude, honors in history Doylestown - Kimberly Dolores Holton, A.B. Psychology/Government & Law (double major) Elizabeth Anne Lutes, B.S. Civil Engineering Jessie Elizabeth Morrin, A.B. Policy Studies Kristen M. Pappacena, A.B. Psychology, cum laude Hilltown - Craig M. Burel, A.B. Economics & Business Holland - Igor R. Faiz, B.S. Biology Langhorne - Kristen Lynn Cautilli, A.B. Biology, cum laude Bridget Elise Hilbig, B.S. Biology Caitlin Anne Titus, A.B. Biology Levittown - Sarah Rose Christy, A.B. Economics & Business, cum laude Michael Joseph Pica IV, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, magna cum laude New Hope - Ryan Donald Eavenson, A.B. History/Russian and East European Studies (double major), summa cum laude David Gerard Goodwin Jr., B.S. Chemistry, magna cum laude, honors in chemistry Newtown - Natalie Starr Holman, B.S. Biology, magna cum laude Perkasie - Stephanie Morgan Fosbenner, B.S. Neuroscience, summa cum laude Quakertown - Katy Anne Kingsbury, B.S. Neuroscience, magna cum laude Alex Robert Osipower, B.S. Mechanical Engineering Riegelsville - Charles J. Donaldson, B.S. Electrical & Computer Engineering Southampton - Ross Asher Kalman, B.S. Biology, summa cum laude Upper Black Eddy - Kristen Irene Greaney, A.B. English, honors in English Yardley - Stephen J. Conway Jr., B.S. Neuroscience, summa cum laude, honors in neuroscience

Carbon County Beaver Meadows - Nicholas Patrick Wilson, B.S. Electrical & Computer Engineering Lehighton - Keith R. Barry, B.S. Electrical & Computer Engineering, summa cum laude Palmerton - Daniel E. McDonald, A.B. English

Lackawanna County Clarks Summit - Michael J. Adelman, B.S. Civil Engineering, highest cumulative average in the Class of 2010, summa cum laude, honors in civil & environmental engineering, recipient of the George Wharton Pepper Prize Steven G. Roberts, A.B. Economics & Business Carolyn Leigh Zawislak, B.S. Biology, cum laude

Monroe County East Stroudsburg - Ashley Danielle Cramer, B.S. Chemical Engineering, summa cum laude, honors in chemical & biomolecular engineering Kunkletown - Martin Thomas Chojnacki, A.B. International Affairs/German (double major), summa cum laude, honors in German and honors in international affairs Swiftwater - Anna G. Schaefer, A.B. English

Montgomery County Cheltenham - Nicolus Lee Oliver, A.B. Engineering Dresher - Alexander W. Baer, B.S. Mechanical Engineering Adam B. Lessen, A.B. Engineering, summa cum laude Alli Michele Meyer, A.B. Mathematics and Economics, cum laude Gilbertsville - Shannon Anna De Hont, A.B. History, cum laude Gladwyne - Erin Devereaux Byrne, A.B. English/Art (double major), cum laude Hatfield - Sean Patrick Casey, A.B. Biology Hollywood - Michael Alan Bolton, B.S. Civil Engineering Huntingdon Valley - Wystan Carswell, B.S. Civil Engineering Alan Marc Raisman, A.B. International Affairs/Government & Law (double major) Jenkintown - Michael Patrick Farrington, A.B. Philosophy/Government & Law (double major), magna cum laude Cara Ann Mulholland, A.B. Economics & Business, cum laude King of Prussia - Allison Marie Tether, B.S. Geology Lower Gwynedd - Jennifer C. Nunn, B.S. Neuroscience North Wales - Jennifer H. Kesilman, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, summa cum laude Oaks - Scott Alan DiPette, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, cum laude Oreland - Andrew Crary Baldridge, B.S. Civil Engineering Roslyn - Alyson Willcox Fitzpatrick, A.B. Psychology/Spanish (double major), cum laude Telford - Laura Alison Flowers, A.B. Psychology, magna cum laude Willow Grove - James David Vasta Jr., B.S. Biochemistry, summa cum laude Schuylkill County McAdoo - Amanda Elizabeth Hauze, A.B. Mathematics/Art (double major), magna cum laude Pottsville - Elizabeth H. Cortese, A.B. English NEW JERSEY

Hunterdon County Lebanon Township - Sara Elizabeth Peterson, A.B. International Affairs/French (double major), cum laude Tewksbury - Kathryn Alexandra Cording, A.B. Psychology/Interdisciplinary (Gender Studies), magna cum laude, honors in psychology Whitehouse Station - Kristina Jane Neuwirth, A.B. Art

Warren County Belvidere - Bryan Christopher Hendrickson, B.S. Civil Engineering, cum laude Blairstown - Christina Marie Giambrone, A.B. English Hackettstown- Matthew David Bilheimer, A.B. American Studies, cum laude, honors in American studies Hope - Daniel Roland Smith, B.S. Electrical & Computer Engineering Washington - Jason A. Lowcher, A.B. History, magna cum laude