Astronaut Catherine "Cady" Coleman is reportedly enthusiastic about speaking to the UMass graduating class.
Catherine ColemanAMHERST - Those graduating from the University of Massachusetts this year will be receiving diplomas on a Friday evening instead of the typical Saturday and the commencement address will be delivered from outer space.
NASA astronaut Catherine “Cady” Coleman, who is currently on board the International Space Station, will be speaking in a videotaped address at the May 13 commencement. Coleman, who lives in Shelburne Falls, received her doctorate in polymer science and engineering from UMass Amherst and is a chemist and retired U.S. Air Force colonel.
Committee members who plan the commencement were intrigued with the idea of inviting Coleman to speak from afar, said UMass spokesman Daniel J. Fitzgibbons.
“They e-mailed her, she responded and she agreed to do this. She’s very enthusiastic about doing it,” he said. He added that “it shows our graduates there are literally no boundaries where UMass alums can go.”
In March Coleman “met” with Holyoke and Springfield students in a video interview arranged at Springfield Technical Community College. She recently performed a duet with Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull. He was earthbound.
At that ceremony at McGuirk Alumni Stadium , 4,300 will receive degrees. David Gergen, a former White House senior aide to Presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Clinton, will receive an honorary doctorate at the undergraduate ceremony. Ceremonies begin at 5 p.m.
Alumnus Jerome M. Paros, an internationally known leader in the field of measurement science, and alumnus Kenneth L. Brayman, pioneer in diabetes research, scholar, researcher and surgeon, will receive Distinguished Achievement Awards. Paros is a Springfield native.
The graduate commencement will be held as usual at 9:30 a.m. in the Mullins Center, also on May 13.
More than 1,200 will receive master’s and doctoral degrees. William McKibben, author and environmental activist, will receive an honorary doctorate an speak briefly.
Also alumnus, faculty member and musician Yusef A. Lateef will receive a Distinguished Achievement Award.
Chancellor Robert C. Holub, UMass President Jack M. Wilson and John R. Mullin, dean of the Graduate School, will also speak briefly.
At noon, the Stockbridge School holds its commencement at noon in Bowker Auditorium with about 100 receiving associate of science degrees. The guest speaker will be Scott J. Soares, state commissioner of agriculture and alumnus of UMass Dartmouth.