FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5/13/03

The weekend begins Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. with the traditional Ivy Cutting ceremony on the front lawn of Hogue Hall. Graduating seniors stand in a circle connected by a continuous strand of ivy. In a solemn ceremony where no words are spoken, the college president, Dr. V. James Mannoia, Jr. will move around the circle, cutting the ivy between each senior to symbolize the parting of ways.

The Ivy Cutting luncheon will follow the ceremony at 11:30 a.m. in H.J. Long Gymnasium. During the luncheon, the senior class will present a hanging sign for the lawn of Hogue Hall as their senior class gift. A luncheon and reception for adult and graduate studies graduates and their families will be held concurrently, beginning at noon in the Armington Center.

The adult and graduate studies commencement will be held at the Crum Recreation Center at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Sharon Smith, executive director at Bethany Place in Belleville, Ill., will deliver the commencement address. Bethany Place is a nonprofit, community-based AIDS service organization that provides comprehensive services to people infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

The traditional choir concert will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday at LaDue Auditorium. Following the concert, the Baccalaureate service will occur at 7:30 p.m. in the Crum Recreation Center. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Rick McPeak, assistant professor of religion at Greenville College.

Commencement ceremonies for traditional graduates will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday in the Crum Recreation Center. The speaker for the Commencement address will be Justice Robert Thomas of the Illinois Supreme Court's second district. Thomas is a graduate of Notre Dame and the Loyola University School of Law. He was an NFL kicker for 12 years, 10 of which were spent with the Chicago Bears.

Schedule of Events

Saturday, May 17, 2003

10:30 a.m. - Ivy Cutting Ceremony
Traditional Graduates
Front lawn of Hogue Hall
Rain Location: H. J. Long Gymnasium

11:30 a.m. - Ivy Cutting Luncheon
Traditional Graduates
H.J. Long Gymnasium (reservation required)

12:00 p.m. - Reception/Luncheon - Adult & Graduate Studies
Armington Center (reservation required)

3:00 p.m. - Commencement - Adult & Graduate Studies
Crum Recreation Center

6:30 p.m. - GC Choir Concert
All Graduates
Ladue Auditorium

7:30 p.m. - Baccalaureate
All Graduates
Crum Recreation Center

Sunday, May 18, 2003

8:30 a.m. - Commencement Breakfast Reception
Joy House - 220 East College

11:30 a.m. - Commencement Brunch Buffet
Armington Center

3:00 p.m. - Commencement
Traditional Graduates
Crum Recreation Center

CONTACT:
B.J. Schneck ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )
Assistant Director of Public Relations
Greenville College
(618) 664-6621