FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2008
Media contact: Micki Leventhal, 312.344.7383 or Priscilla L. Hunter, 312.344.7805
(CHICAGO, IL) Columbia College Chicago undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremonies will extend over two days and three ceremonies. Ceremonies will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 17 and at 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 18. All ceremonies will be held at the UIC Pavilion, Harrison Street and Racine. This year, the arts and media college will graduate more than 2,300 students.
Artists and communicators whose lives and work embody the college’s ideals and spirit will deliver commencement remarks and receive honorary doctorate degrees from the arts and media college, announced Columbia’s president, Dr. Warrick L. Carter. The honorees are: journalist Dan Rather, photographer Graciela Iturbide and Earth, Wind & Fire: Maurice White, Ralph Johnson, Philip Bailey and Verdine White.
In addition to the granting of honorary doctorate degrees, each ceremony will – for the first time – feature recognition of “Alumni of the Year.” The 2008 Alumni honorees are producer Len Amato, actress Tonya Pinkins and choreographer Eduardo Vilaro.
Saturday afternoon ceremonies at 1:30 p.m. include the graduate and undergraduate divisions in the following academic departments: Arts, Entertainment & Media Management, ASL-English Interpretation, English (Poetry), Fiction Writing, Interactive Arts & Media, Journalism and Television. More than 700 graduating students are expected to attend.
During the Saturday ceremonies Columbia will award the Doctoris Honoris Causa to award winning broadcast journalist Dan Rather. Mr. Rather will be introduced by Columbia Trustee Joseph F. Peyronnin, III.
Len Amato (’75 B.A. Film/Video) is Senior Vice President, HBO Films, whose producing credits include Iron Jawed Angels, Blood Diamond, Analyze This, Possession and The Astronaut Farmer. He will be presented with the Alumni of the Year Award by Professor Chap Freeman of the Film/Video department.
Sunday morning ceremonies at 10:00 a.m. include the graduate and undergraduate divisions in the following academic departments: Dance, Dance Movement Therapy & Counseling, Film/Video, Liberal Education (Cultural Studies), Marketing Communication, Music and Theater. More than 800 graduating students are expected to attend.
During the Sunday morning ceremonies Columbia will award the Doctoris Honoris Causa to members of the iconic band Earth, Wind & Fire. Columbia President Warrick L. Carter, Ph.D. will introduce founding band members Maurice White, Ralph Johnson, Philip Bailey and Verdine White.
Tonya Pinkins (’96 B.A. Theater) is a Tony Award winning actress, known widely to TV viewers for her role as Livia Frye on All My Children. She will be presented with the Alumni of the Year Award by Sheldon Patinkin, chair of the Theater department.
Sunday afternoon ceremonies at 3:00 p.m. include the graduate and undergraduate divisions in the following academic departments: Art & Design, Audio Arts & Acoustics, Education, Interdisciplinary Arts, Photography and Radio. More than 600 graduating students are expected to attend.
During the Sunday afternoon ceremonies Columbia will award the Doctoris Honoris Causa to internationally renowned photographer Graciela Iturbide. She will be introduced by Rod Slemmons, director of Columbia’s Museum of Contemporary Photography.
Eduardo Vilaro (’99 M.A. Interdisciplinary Arts) is the founder and artistic director of, and principal choreographer for, the critically acclaimed Luna Negra Dance Theater. He will be presented with the Alumni of the Year Award by Bonnie Brooks, chair of the Dance department.
HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT BIOS:
Dan Rather
Born October 31, 1931 in Wharton, Texas, Rather began his career in journalism at Sam Houston State Teachers College in Huntsville, TX, where he was editor of the school newspaper and worked part-time at a local radio station. Before he graduated from college, he worked for the Associated Press and United Press International as a field reporter. In 1961, he became a network correspondent when his coverage of Hurricane Carla for the local CBS station in Houston won him the attention of network affiliates. Working as a CBS correspondent at the time of the John F. Kennedy assassination, his steady, professional brand of journalism helped ease Americans through the tragedy. After covering such historical landmarks as the Civil Rights movement, the Vietnam War, and the Watergate Scandal, Rather succeeded Walter Cronkite as anchor of the CBS Evening News. Rather held that position for a record 24 years while also serving as a correspondent for 48 Hours and 60 Minutes II. He is currently Chief Global Correspondent for HDNet, where he is Anchor and Managing Editor of the weekly news program “Dan Rather Reports.” Rather has won virtually every prize in broadcast journalism, including numerous Emmy and Peabody Awards. He currently resides in New York City with his wife Jean, with whom he has two children.
Earth, Wind & Fire: Maurice White, Ralph Johnson, Philip Bailey, & Verdine White
The legendary band, Earth, Wind & Fire is among the most influential, commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands of the last three decades. Formed in 1969 in Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire’s 39-year history resulted in millions of albums sold worldwide and distinguished awards and accolades. Founding members: Maurice White (leader, vocalist, songwriter); Philip Bailey (lead vocalist, percussionist); Verdine White (bassist); Ralph Johnson (drummer and percussionist) have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and are credited with eight Grammy Awards, four American Music Awards, honors from the NAACP, the BET Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. To this day, Earth, Wind & Fire remain one of the top globally popular touring attractions. Earth, Wind & Fire’s signature sound and distinctive musical styles fuse pop, soul, jazz, rock n’ roll, psychedelic, African roots music and disco with a base in funk. Hit songs include “September,” “Shining Star,” “Fantasy,” and “Let’s Groove.”’
Graciela Iturbide
Since entering the world of photography in 1970, Graciela Iturbide has been a leading influence on the world’s vision of contemporary Mexican culture. Born in Mexico City, Iturbide came to photography after marrying at the age of twenty and having three children, fulfilling the pressures of an upper-middle class family. She began her career with an apprenticeship under Manuel Alvarez Bravo, considered by many to be Mexico’s greatest photographer. His influence can be seen in her work with the indigenous people of her country. Her images focus on the balance of power between the ancient world and the modern one, exploring aspects such as identity, sexuality, rituals, death, and the role of women in daily life. Iturbide has recently expanded her work to include other cultures, bringing her understanding of the clash between rural and urban landscapes to the American South. Among her many honors and awards are Guggenheim Fellowship Award (1988) and the Premio de Acquisicion in the First Photography Biennial (1980).
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