Briar Cliff University to Host Commencement at Orpheum

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Briar Cliff University will host the 2008 baccalaureate liturgy and commencement ceremony to honor 234 candidates for degrees this weekend.

 Baccalaureate Mass is scheduled for 6 p.m., Friday, May 16 at the Cathedral of the Epiphany, 10^th and Douglas Streets in Sioux City with the Most Rev. R. Walker Nickless, Bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City, presiding.  Concelebrant for baccalaureate is Rev. Al McCoy.  Bishop R. Walker Nickless will serve as celebrant and homilist.

 BCU’s 77^th commencement ceremony will take place at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 17 at the Orpheum Theatre, 528 Pierce Street in Sioux City.  University officials plan to confer 233 bachelor’s degrees and one master’s degree.

 The 2008 valedictorian is Angela Olerich, Carroll, Iowa, graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor’s in biology.  The 2008 salutatorian is Leah Hildebrand, Sioux City, graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor's in political science.

 Briar Cliff University’s commencement ceremony will begin with the processional led by the bearer of the San Damiano Crucifix, Sister Grace Ann Witte, O.S.F., Ph.D. and associate professor of sociology. The San Damiano Crucifix is the foremost symbol of Briar Cliff University’s Franciscan heritage.

 Several members of the student body will be flag bearers and carry banners for the ceremony.  Jodi Gosch, Mapleton, Iowa, will carry the colors of the United States; Marie Meno, Bailey, Col., will carry the State of Iowa flag; Christopher Kopel, Spencer, Iowa, will carry the colors of Briar Cliff University; and Tara Brockman, Dennison, Iowa, and Katherine Holtzmann, Yankton, S.D., will serve as banner bearers.  Student marshals for commencement are Heidi Anthony, Le Mars, Iowa, and David Stoos, Jefferson, S.D.  Kristina Ruhlman, North Platte, Neb., is registry book bearer. Charles Shaffer, Ph.D., professor of mathematics, and George Frangedakis, associate professor of business, are the faculty marshals for commencement.

 Commencement will open with the “National Anthem” sung by students William Darwin, Jr., and Carolyn Lohr, both of Sioux City.  Sister Dorothy Heiderscheit, O.S.F., chairperson of the board of trustees, will deliver the commencement invocation.

 Briar Cliff University President Beverly A. Wharton will provide the greeting followed by student remarks from Carolyn Lohr, traditional student, and Kari Rhodes, continuing education student, both of Sioux City.

 Following the student remarks, William T. Mangan, Ph.D, vice president for academic affairs, will present the 2008 degree candidates, after which President Wharton will confer the degrees and deliver the charge to the Class of 2008. 

 In addition to receiving their diplomas, graduates will be given San Damiano crucifixes as symbols of their unique educational experiences at Briar Cliff – a Catholic Franciscan university. 

 The ceremony will come to a close as Sarah Arbuckle, William Darwin, Jr., Laura Flammang, Anthony Fravel, Huda Jarmakani, Carolyn Lohr, Timothy Osterman and April Zingler lead the audience in the singing of “The Briar Cliff Hymn.” Bishop Nickless will give the final blessing.  A reception will follow at the conclusion of commencement.

 Motorists in Sioux City should note that Pierce Street between Fifth and Sixth Streets will be closed from 7 a.m. through 3 p.m. for commencement on Saturday.

 Briar Cliff University is a Catholic institution with an enrollment of more than 1,100 students from 26 states and four countries.  Students are educated in the Franciscan tradition of excellence in the liberal arts and career preparation in an environment of care and compassion. For more information, please visit www.briarcliff.edu.