European Vice President to Speak at UML Commencement

LOWELL - The first vice president of the European Commission will deliver the commencement address next month at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

            Margot Wallström, who also will receive an honorary degree, will speak to the nearly 2,000 graduates expected to receive bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees on Sunday, June 5 at 10 a.m. at the Tsongas Arena.

            Wallström, who also is the European commissioner for institutional relations and communications strategy, previously served as European commissioner for the environment and as a member of the Swedish Parliament.

The ceremony provides the opportunity to recognize students for outstanding academic and service achievements. This year's valedictorian will be named, along with recipients of the Chancellor's Medal for Distinguished Academic Achievement. Among those receiving degrees will be the first group of master's degree recipients completing multi-campus degree programs. In addition, degrees conferred will include 70 doctorates - up from the annual average of 55.

            In addition to Wallström, others receiving honorary degrees include geneticist and microbiologist John Beckwith, who is currently working in the Genetics Screening Study Group in Boston; and Eric S. Lander, former leader of the Human Genome Project and current director of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.  James V. Dandeneau, vice president of Memry Corporation, will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award.

            Following the University-wide commencement ceremonies, receptions for each college will be held in locations on the arena grounds. Additional information, including a complete schedule of commencement day activities, is available at www.uml.edu/commencement/.    

            The University of Massachusetts Lowell, a comprehensive university with special expertise in applied science and technology, is committed to educating students for lifelong success and conducting research and outreach activities that sustain the economic, environmental, and social health of the region. UML offers its 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students more than 80 degree programs in the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Engineering and Management, and the School of Health and Environment and the Graduate School of Education.  Visit the website at www.uml.edu.

* Editor's Note:  Photos available upon request