Purdue’s Summer Commencement Available to TV, Internet Audiences; Grads in Eco-Friendly Gowns

PurdueLogoThe summer commencement ceremony at Purdue University's West Lafayette campus will be broadcast live for television and Internet audiences.

The event, which will feature graduates wearing new environmentally friendly attire, will take place at 9:30 a.m. Saturday (Aug. 3), in the Elliott Hall of Music and will be aired live on Comcast Channel 5 and Boiler TV Channel 13. A Windows Media live stream also will be available at mms://video1.itap.purdue.edu/graduation

A Universal live stream of the commencement ceremony will also be available for Flash and mobile device users at: http://kmc.kaltura.com/index.php/kmc/preview/partner_id/1020782/uiconf_id/15276472/entry_id/1_e6kfe64u/embed/auto?&flashvars[streamerType]=auto

A Windows Media streaming archive of the ceremony will be available after the event at mms://video1.itap.purdue.edu/bns/Commencements/August2013.wmv

There are 1,174 candidates for graduation, which includes 662 graduate students, 510 undergraduates and two professional degree-seekers. Participants will walk across the stage in new eco-friendly gowns in a pilot program with Herff Jones.

In a Herff Jones news release, assistant Purdue registrar Christine DeHahan Pass said, "Purdue is committed to a sustainable future, and with the help of Herff Jones, the inclusion of EarthGrad gowns in the CustomRental™ program allows us to set the stage for green commencements as the first ever university to graduate in eco-friendly regalia made solely with REPREVE recycled fibers. As a university, Purdue is proud to help raise awareness with our scholars as they transition into the workplace."

REPREVE is made entirely of recycled plastic bottles by Unifi Inc.

Adam O. Szewciw of Schererville, Ind., who will receive his bachelor of science degree from the College of Science, will be the student responder for the summer commencement.

Commencement videos will be available. A DVD costs $30, and order forms are available at Stewart Center's Loeb Playhouse box office or by calling 765-494-3933. The deadline for ordering is two weeks after the ceremony.