By Tim Leeds
The commencement ceremonies for the graduation of the Class of 2001 at Montana State University-Northern will begin Saturday, May 5, at 10 a.m. in the Northern gymnasium.
The ceremonies will include remarks by several distinguished speakers, as well as recognition of the reunions of the classes of 1941 and 1951.
On the program are remarks from Regent Lynn Hamilton of the Montana Board of Regents of Higher Education, remarks from Chancellor Alex Capdeville and Director of Northern Alumni Affairs Judy Bricker, and the address of the commencement speaker, Dr. Martha Anne Dow.
Dow, president of the Oregon Institute of Technology, is a graduate of Northern in secondary education with a biology specialty and was a member of the Northern faculty and administration from 1976-1992. She became provost of OIT in 1992. While at Northern, Dow held positions including chair of the math-science department and vice chancellor for academic affairs.
Bricker said the reunion events will be a major event over the weekend, which will be for both the class of 1951 and 1941, with many of the members of the classes of 1939-1943 attending with the class of 1941.
"We have a really large group coming back," Bricker said.
She said it will start for the reunion classes with registration at 11 a.m. Friday, with a lunch at 11:30 a.m. and a campus tour at 1 p.m.
They will be recognized and honored at the Founders' dinner Friday at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Building, where the members of the Class of 1951 will receive 50th anniversary pins.
"We hope it's a special time for them," Bricker said.
They will be served a light brunch Saturday, followed by gowning and a class picture, then the Class of 1951 will lead the Class of 2001 into the gym for the ceremonies.
The Class of 1951 will be recognized during the conferring of degrees, receiving an anniversary diploma at the start of that part of the ceremony.
Bricker said the 60-year reunion class will have special seating reserved and will also be recognized during the ceremony.
The reunion classes are invited to attend the commencement brunch in the SUB following the ceremony, and after a rest can take their choice of a tour of Havre Beneath the Streets or a presentation by Jim Magera lecturing about Lewis and Clark.
The reunion classes are invited to a steak barbecue hosted by the alumni association,starting with a social at 6 p.m. and the barbecue at 6:30 p.m. in Donaldson Commons.
It's going to be a big thing," Bricker said.
She said they expect at least 82 people to attend the barbecue.
