Media Advisory: UA’s Spring Commencement Excercises

SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2001
MORNING CEREMONY: 9 a.m.
AFTERNOON CEREMONY: 1:30 p.m.
LAW SCHOOL CEREMONY: 5:30 p.m.
COLEMAN COLISEUM

Morning Ceremony: (bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D.): Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Human Environmental Sciences, and the School of Social Work.

Afternoon Ceremony: (bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialists, Ph.D. and Ed.D): The Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration, and Colleges of Communication and Information Sciences, Education, and Nursing.

SPEAKERS

MAIN–Gay Talese
Talese, speaking at both University-wide ceremonies and also receiving an honorary doctorate of humane letters, is largely credited with founding the “New Journalism” movement that emphasized creativity, a narrative style, dialogue and other features often reserved for fiction. He has authored the best selling books, “The Kingdom and the Power,” “Honor Thy Father,” and his most recent work, “Unto the Sons.”
Talese earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from UA in 1953. While at UA, Talese was sports editor for the Crimson White, UA’s student newspaper. He served as a reporter for The New York Times from 1953-1965. In 1966, he became a contributing editor for Esquire Magazine and also contributed articles to Reader’s Digest, New York Times Magazine and the Saturday Evening Post.
His awards and recognition include the 1970 Christopher Book Award for The Kingdom and the Power; the 1988 UA Society for the Fine Arts’ Alumni Award, the 1998 UA College of Communication Clarence Cason Writing Award; and he was named the first Kelly Writers House Fellow in 1999.

LAW–U.S. District Judge Inge Prytz Johnson
UA Law’s first recipient of the master of comparative law degree in 1970, Johnson received her juris doctor degree from Alabama as well in 1973. She went on to serve as the first woman elected circuit judge in the state of Alabama, presiding over the 31st Circuit in Colbert County for 20 years before becoming U.S. District Judge in 1998.
NOTEWORTHY/INSPIRING GRADUATES

Sanja Alickovic: Flees Bosnia for Safety, Finds Success at UA – When 12-year-old Sanja Alickovic left her family and boarded the next to last flight out of war-torn Bosnia, she had no idea she would end up attending college in Alabama. Now, a little less than 10 years later, she will graduate with honors (a perfect 4.0 GPA) May 19 with a degree in marketing from UA. While in elementary school, Alickovic and her older sister, Arnela, were sent to live with relatives in nearby Slovenia. Later, it was decided their Muslim father also should leave Bosnia while the girls’ mother, a Serb, remained behind. While in high school, Sanja Alickovic worked with the Slovenia Foundation; a group that helps refugees adjust to their new lives in Slovenia by assisting the children. She also met UA graduate Christopher Davis of Mobile, who was teaching English in Slovenia. After high school graduation, Alickovic was invited by Davis’ family to come for a visit. While getting her visa, she discovered a program for young Bosnian citizens wanting to immigrate to the United States, and she did so. The Davis’ family encouraged her to attend UA, and after she visited Tuscaloosa, Alickovic knew she had found her college home.

Sylvia Elliott: After 40 years, UA Employee Earns Degree Same Day As Her Daughter – For more than 40 years, Sylvia Elliott, an administrative assistant for the University’s College of Arts and Sciences, has been taking college classes off and on as she moved around the country and raised her family. And on May 19 not only will Elliott be the proud recipient of a degree in interdisciplinary studies, but she will also be the proud mother of another graduate-her daughter, Samantha, who will receive her master’s degree in Women’s Studies. But Elliott, 63, doesn’t plan on resting on her laurels. She’s been accepted into the University’s highly competitive Creative Writing Program to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree. Elliott plans on picking up that degree the same year she qualifies for Social Security!

Jerry Pate: Former PGA Golfer To Receive His Degree Same Day As His Daughter – Since the 1970s, Jerry Pate has had some unfinished business with The University of Alabama – earning his college degree in interdisciplinary studies. When his daughter, Jennifer, came to UA as a freshman, he decided it was time to take care of that. Pate left UA for the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) without graduating. Currently a designer of golf courses, Pate was able to complete his degree off-campus through UA’s External Degree Program. To make the day even more special, Pate’s daughter will receive her degree in human development and family studies May 19 also.
Mike Stevenson: Three Degrees in Seven Years! – Talk about motivated! When UA graduate Mike Stevenson receives his doctoral degree May 19, it will be the third degree he’s earned since 1994. Stevenson has earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in metallurgical and materials engineering, all from UA, in seven straight years. According to UA’s Office of Records, no other graduate has completed a Ph.D. in this time frame in the past 20 years.

Shannon Turner: She’s Going to Disney World! – You’ve just earned your degree in Restaurant and Hospitality Management. What are you going to do now? Well, if you’re UA graduate Shannon Turner, you’re going to Walt Disney World in Orlando to become the park and resort merchandising special events planner for the world’s most famous theme park.

For more information on these graduates or to set up interviews, contact Suzanne Dowling in Media Relations at 205/348-8324 or sdowling@ur.ua.edu