Commencement festivities ready for largest-ever graduating class

Chapman University will graduate the largest class in its history – 1,519 seniors and 754 graduate degree candidates – during its spring Commencement festivities May 22-24.

Honorary doctoral degrees will be presented to actor and activist Edward James Olmos (Battlestar Galactica, Miami Vice) by the College of Educational Studies; Cathy Schulman, president of Mandalay Pictures, by Dodge College of Film and Media Arts; and philanthropist and real estate developer Dale E. Fowler ’58 by the law school. Fowler and his wife, Sarah Ann, gave $55 million to name the Dale E. Fowler School of Law.

Commencement keynote speakers include Judge Raymond Fisher (U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit) for the Fowler School of Law, John Cushman III (co-chairman of the board, Cushman & Wakefield) for the Argyros School of Business and Economics, Oanh X. Nguyen (co-founder of Chance Theatre in Anaheim) for the College of Performing Arts, Cahal McLaughlin (professor, School of Creative Arts, Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland) for Wilkinson College of Humanities and Social Sciences, James Mazzo (executive chairman/CEO of AcuFocus, and partner for Versant Ventures) for Schmid College of Science and Technology, Carl Wilkens (humanitarian – the only American aid volunteer to remain in Rwanda after the 1994 genocide began) for the College of Educational Studies, and Cathy Schulman (president, Mandalay Pictures, who will also receive an honorary degree) for Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.

The weekend will kick off on Thursday, May 22, with the Senior Convocation – the all-university academic ceremony honoring the achievements of the graduating class – followed by the President’s Toast to the Class of 2014 for seniors and their families.

On Friday, May 23, the Baccalaureate Interfaith Worship Service will feature actress Amber Tamblyn (Two and a Half Men, Joan of Arcadia) as the keynote speaker, and the Commencement ceremonies for the Dale E. Fowler School of Law and George L. Argyros School of Business and Economics will take place on Friday evening. On Saturday, May 24, the Commencement ceremonies for the other five Chapman schools and colleges, as well as the doctoral ceremony for the Department of Physical Therapy, will take place.

A full schedule of events is below. All events are free and open to the public without tickets, except where noted.

More information for the Class of 2014, including a photo submission page for the convocation slide show, can be found at the Senior Hub website.

Senior Convocation & President’s Toast to the Class of 2014

Thursday, May 22, 7 p.m.

Senior Convocation is an all-school academic ceremony designed to honor the achievements of the graduating class. The ceremony is followed by the President’s Toast, where the President raises a glass to this year’s seniors. Senior Convocation is not open to the public. It is for seniors and their families, and attendance is optional. Free, but tickets are required.

7 p.m. – Senior Convocation at Bert C. Williams Mall

7:45 p.m. – President’s Toast and Reception at Attallah Piazza

Baccalaureate Interfaith Worship Service

Friday, May 23, 4 p.m.

Baccalaureate is a traditional spiritual service open to those of all faiths. Seniors’ attendance is optional.

Featured Speaker: Amber Tamblyn, Actor and Poet

Guest Performer: Gurpreet Sarin, Singer

4 p.m. – Baccalaureate Service at Wallace All Faiths Chapel, Fish Interfaith Center

Commencement Ceremonies, Friday, May 23

Dale E. Fowler School of Law

5 p.m., Holly and David Wilson Field

Keynote Address: Hon. Raymond Fisher, Senior Circuit Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Honorary Degree: Dale E. Fowler ’58, Owner, Fowler Properties

5 p.m. – Hooding and Conferral at Holly and David Wilson Field

7 p.m. – Reception at Donald P. Kennedy Hall

The George L. Argyros School of Business and Economics

8 p.m., Holly and David Wilson Field

Keynote Address: John Cushman, III, Co-chairman of the Board, Cushman & Wakefield, Inc.

6 p.m. – Pre-ceremony Reception at Attallah Piazza

8 p.m. – Commencement at Holly and David Wilson Field

Commencement Ceremonies, Saturday, May 24

College of Performing Arts

8 a.m., Bert C. Williams Mall

Keynote Address: Oanh X. Nguyen, Co-founder of Chance Theater

8 a.m. – Commencement at Bert C. Williams Mall

9 a.m. – Reception at The Shady Quad

Wilkinson College of Humanities and Social Sciences

9:15 a.m., Holly and David Wilson Field

Keynote Address: Cahal McLaughlin, Professor, School of Creative Arts, Queen’s University Belfast

9:15 a.m. – Commencement at Holly and David Wilson Field

11:15 a.m. – Reception at Attallah Piazza

Schmid College of Science and Technology

11:30 a.m., Bert C. Williams Mall

Keynote Address: James Mazzo, Executive Chairman/CEO, AcuFocus, and Partner for Versant Ventures

11:30 a.m. – Commencement at Bert C. Williams Mall

12:45 p.m. – Reception at Escalette Plaza

Department of Physical Therapy

1:30 p.m., Memorial Hall

1:30 p.m. – Hooding and Conferral at Chapman Auditorium, Memorial Hall

3 p.m. – Reception at Crean Hall

College of Educational Studies

4:30 p.m., Bert C. Williams Mall

Keynote Address: Carl Wilkens, humanitarian. Honorary Degree: Edward James Olmos, actor and activist

4:30 p.m. – Commencement at Bert C. Williams Mall

6 p.m. – Reception at The Shady Quad

Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media Arts

6:30 p.m., Holly and David Wilson Field

Keynote Address and Honorary Degree: Cathy Schulman, President, Mandalay Pictures

6:30 p.m. – Commencement at Holly and David Wilson Field

8 p.m. – After-party at Marion Knott Studios