Commencement began Friday for about 9,300 students at San Diego State University, with graduations scheduled throughout the weekend at Viejas Arena.
The ceremonies began with the College of Health and Human Services. Robert Price, whose family began the Price Club and Price Charitable Trust, received an honorary degree though he was not there to accept the award.
Price was chosen because of his family’s philanthropic support of SDSU, university officials said. In 2003, Price’s father, Sol, who died in 2009 at 93, received an honorary degree from SDSU. Once the younger Price receives his, it will mark the first time a father and son have both received honorary degrees from the local university.
The College of Sciences was to follow at 1 p.m., and the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts at 5:30 p.m.
Thomas McElroy, the co-founder of Volcom, a clothing and accessories outlet, was scheduled to speak at the latter event, and Patricia Roscoe, an architect and international tourism advocate, also was set to receive an honorary degree.
Saturday’s ceremonies include the College of Business Administration at 8 a.m., College of Arts and Letters at 1 p.m., and College of Engineering at 5 p.m.
The engineering school speaker will be Douglas Barnhart, whose firm builds schools and other major buildings.
Commencement will conclude at 9 a.m. Sunday with the College of Education and the Division of Undergraduate Studies.
Attendees are asked to use the trolley or other public transportation, if possible.
The most popular course of study for SDSU graduates this year was psychology, with 611 students. SDSU’s clinical psychology program and a joint doctoral program in clinical psychology with UC San Diego are nationally ranked by U.S. News and World Report.
Cal State San Marcos also was scheduled to host commencement ceremonies this weekend, but because of a wildfire that rampaged across the hills above campus, graduation was postponed to May 24-25.
– City News Service
