Ronald LaFayette to Address WWU Summer Commencement Aug. 21

BELLINGHAM – Ronald H. LaFayette, President Emeritus of North Seattle Community College, will urge new graduates to keep their own connections with Western Washington University when he addresses graduates and guests at Western’s summer Commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 21 in Carver Gymnasium.

LaFayette, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Western, retired in 2010 following a decade as the vice chancellor and president of North Seattle Community College. At North Seattle CC, LaFayette worked closely with Woodring College of Education to help create pathways for NSCC students to become teachers. He received Woodring’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2009, and is also a member of the WWU Alumni Association board of directors.

Approximately 370 undergraduates and 91 master’s candidates will receive degrees this quarter. Summer commencement includes all majors and only one ceremony will take place.

Tickets are not required to attend summer commencement. For those who prefer, a live feed of the televised ceremony will be shown in the Science, Mathematics and Technology Education (SMATE) building. SMATE is a comfortable alternative for elderly guests, guests with small children and for those who have difficulty climbing stairs.

Student speaker Samuel Dart will speak on the value of continued learning and the pursuit of knowledge. Dart, who will earn a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, plans on pursuing a career in environmental law. After graduation, Dart will move to Colorado to start a three-month internship with Southwest Conservation Corps where he will work on conservation and sustainability projects while applying to law schools.

In keeping with Western’s Memory walk tradition, graduates will proceed after the ceremony through Red Square to the walk in front of Old Main, where they will pass through a corridor of faculty and deposit their Western identification cards in a time capsule.

Commencement parking will be available at no cost in most lots. Visitors must observe regulations for handicapped and individually reserved spaces. Lot 14G will be reserved for faculty and staff. A shuttle service to Carver Gym will be available from the tent in Lot 12A off South Campus Parkway near Fairhaven College. The shuttle cannot accommodate wheelchairs. Guests in wheelchairs may park in Lot 17G located on East College Way. Parking attendants will be available to assist guests with special parking needs.