More than 650 students anticipate graduation Saturday

Approximately 668 students are expected to graduate from UW-Whitewater Saturday in the Kachel Fieldhouse.

Because commencement occurs before the graduation examiner can clear students for degrees, the number of students graduating as well as the 166 honors candidates are tentative.

The number of graduates from each college as of Friday are as follows: Arts and Communication, 87, Business and Economics, 171, Education, 141, Letters and Sciences, 180, and 89 Masters degree candidates.

Patty Duffey, a 1977 UW-Whitewater graduate, is giving the commencement speech to the 2007 graduates. She is the senior vice president of market development for UniPro, a food service distribution company in Atlanta.

Emily Dunne is graduating with a double major in management and Spanish from the College of Business and Economics. She spent one semester in Seville, Spain. Like other students, Dunne worked during her college career.

"I think the biggest thing was time management, classes, work and friendship," Dunne said. "It was a challenge and a learning process."

Kristin Khail is graduating from the honors program with a major in finance and a minor in Spanish from the College of Business and Economics. She chose to go into the honors program for a number of reasons.

"I though it would help differentiate me from the other students," Khail said. "I would be one step ahead of other students and it would push me work harder."

Khail has spent four and a half years at UW-Whitewater with the exception of studying in London. She became part of the study abroad program through UW-Stevens Point.

Khail said she chose UW-Whitewater because of its business program.

"UW-Whitewater has a prominent business program within the state and outside of it," Khail said. "It really pushes people to reach new limits. I really like being challenged."

Khail has a full-time job with the Kohler Co. after graduation.

Jerod Boyd is graduating after four and a half years from the School of Education. Boyd chose UW-Whitewater because of its good special education program. Currently, he student teaches at Whitewater Middle School. He also coaches the middle school basketball team.

"I teach mostly eighth grade students with learning disabilities," Boyd said.

Kraig Rueth is graduating from the College of Letters and Sciences with a major in political science after three and a half years. He originally chose UW-Whitewater because its reputation for the radio communication program. However, he changed his focus once he came to UW-Whitewater.

"It didn't seem to be the right path for me," Rueth said.