MONDAY, MAY 3, 1999

Graduates ready to walk

By Tina Dhamija

Daily Forty-Niner

The 1999 spring semester is coming to a close, which means graduation day is just around the corner.

With more than 5,000 students expected to walk on May 26, preparations for the three-day commencement ceremony are set to begin, said Sharon Olson, director of University Projects.

This year's graduates are made up of a combination of students who have filed for graduation from the summer and spring semesters of 1998, spring of 1999 and the upcoming summer and fall semesters of 1999.

In addition to the number of students graduating, an estimated 45,000 guests will attend this year's ceremonies, Olson said.

Ceremonies will be held in the central quad area of Upper Campus.

Since January, CSULB groundskeepers have been gearing up and working hard to create a beautiful atmosphere in the central quad area, Olson said. Facilities management has ensured a clean and beautiful campus for graduates and their families.

Workers have been planting flowers in the central quad and surrounding areas to create a spring-time atmosphere, and painters have been repainting bathrooms and surrounding walls to make sure CSULB is tidy for the big day, Olson said.

"The entire campus comes together for those three days," said Olson.

"I'm very happy and looking forward to it [graduating], " said graduate Alan Wedemeyer, a physical therapy major. "I want to get out and make some money."

Mechanical engineering major, Yungchi Yoon said that he is happy to graduate but feels he "still needs some more training before working ."

The next few weeks look hectic for staff and facility as the semester winds to a close, but graduation proceedings seem to be on their way to ensuring a beautiful and happy graduation day, university officials said.

Each commencement ceremony during the three days will officially begin at 9 a.m. and last until 5 p.m. All seven colleges will be represented. The following are the days each college are scheduled to have its commencement ceremonies:

· May 26 - College of Business Administration, College of Health and Human Services

· May 27 - College of Liberal Arts, College of Engineering

· May 28 - College of the Arts, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, College of Education, College of Liberal Studies.