News Releases
June 11, 2013
For Immediate Release
For additional information:
Jennifer Kirby
Communications and Marketing
Telephone: 360-992-2219
Email: jkirby@clark.edu
Clark College Commencement 2013:
Graduating our community's newest generation of leaders
On June 20, Clark College will honor
what is expected to be the largest graduating class in its history
VANCOUVER, Wash. – For almost eight decades, Clark College has been providing Southwest Washington with
new generations of teachers, entrepreneurs, health care professionals, community organizers,
and other leaders within this region. On June 20, the college will graduate the newest
generation of leaders at its 2013 commencement ceremony.
The college is on track to graduate its largest class ever, with students earning almost 1,900 degrees and certificates during the 2012-2013 academic year. Almost 600 of those graduates have signed up to participate in the ceremony, which will be held on Thursday, June 20, at 7 p.m. at the Sleep Country Amphitheater, 17200 NE Delfel Road, Ridgefield. The event is free and open to the public.
Some highlights from this year’s ceremony include the largest-yet graduating class from Clark’s Weekend Degree program, which allows students to earn a degree while balancing work/life challenges by attending classes solely online and on weekends; the first graduates from Clark’s new high-tech Mechatronics program; and 215 high school students graduating from the Running Start program (Clark’s largest-ever class of Running Start graduates).
ABC News anchor and chief national correspondent Byron Pitts will be the keynote speaker. During
the ceremony, Clark College President Robert K. Knight will announce the winners of
the 2013 Exceptional Faculty Award. Knight will also announce the winner of the 2013-2014
Community College President’s Award. That scholarship will be given to a Clark College
graduate who is transferring to a WSU Vancouver degree program and who has demonstrated
leadership potential, community service, and a strong academic record. The scholarship
award provides full-time tuition (10-18 credits) and is renewable for one additional
year, or a total of four semesters.
About Byron Pitts
Known for his thought-provoking coverage and his commitment to exceptional storytelling, Byron Pitts is a multiple Emmy Award-winning journalist. In 2013 Pitts became an anchor and the Chief National Correspondent at ABC. Prior to working for ABC, Pitts was the Chief National Correspondent for CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, where he was recognized for his work under fire as an embedded reporter covering the Iraq War. A news veteran with over 20 years of experience, other major stories he has covered include September 11, the war in Afghanistan, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the military buildup in Kuwait and the refugee crisis in Kosovo, to name but a few. He is also the author of a memoir, Step Out On Nothing: How Family and Faith Helped Me Conquer Life’s Challenges.
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