University of Houston students are winding down the fall semester and preparing for the holidays. While many Coogs are returning for the spring semester, others are bidding a fond farewell to the campus they’ve called home.
On Dec. 19, UH will confer 3,127 degrees during its fall commencement ceremonies in Hofheinz Pavilion. Among those accepting their diplomas is Stephanie Henry Pollard. At 64 years of age, Pollard is the oldest graduate at the fall ceremony. She is earning a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy. Harmon Ye is the youngest student to graduate this fall. At just 18, he is earning a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering.
The 2014 fall graduates hail from 25 states and 55 nations. A breakdown of degrees to be awarded is as follows: 100 doctorates, 25 professional degrees, 615 master’s degrees and 2,383 bachelor’s degrees.
A schedule of the day’s ceremonies is as follows:
- 9 a.m. – College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
- 2 p.m. – College of Education, Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, College of Technology
- 7 p.m. – C.T. Bauer College of Business, Cullen College of Engineering
In addition to celebrating students’ academic accomplishments, UH is recognizing two longtime Cougar supporters. Michael and Rebecca Cemo were honored as the 2014 recipients of the President’s Medallion. The award recognizes individuals and organizations for exceptional contributions to UH.
Alumnus Michael Cemo (’68) previously served on the UH System Board of Regents and was the CEO for AIM Distributors Inc. He and wife Rebecca are ardent supporters of the University and have contributed to numerous UH scholarships. The impact of the Cemos' generosity is felt across campus, including the state-of-the-art classroom building – Michael J. Cemo Hall.
Hofheinz Pavilion will open one hour before each ceremony. Early arrival is recommended, as seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. In the event of a capacity crowd, the Science and Engineering Complex (across the street from Hofheinz Pavilion on Cullen Boulevard) will serve as an overflow facility.
Ceremonies will be streamed live here and available for later viewing on the UH website. For more details on commencement, visit the official UH Commencement site.