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Commencement video tapes, 1999-2007

 Collection
Identifier: 016.02.08

Videotapes containing recordings of IIT commencement ceremonies. Generally, the color and sound video includes the following: entrance procession, National Anthem (frequently sung by Terry Shapiro), greetings and remarks by President Lew Collens, presentation of guests to receive honorary degrees and their remarks (commencement address), one or more student speakers, presentation and hooding of graduate candidates, awarding of degrees to graduates and undergraduates, presentation of Alumni Association academic achievement awards, IIT cheer and song, and the recessional.

See below for register by date and details.

Register of videos

1999, May 15 (2 copies)
Lithuanian national anthem sung by male vocal group (in honor of Valdas Adamkus), "Star Spangled Banner" by Terry Shapiro. Unknown student speaker, Honorary degrees to Martin Jischke and Valdas Adamkus. First performance of the new IIT alma mater, "IIT, You Mean To Me," composed by Francisco Ruiz, sung by Ruiz and Shapiro. Nice images of Dean of Students, Terry Shapiro during opening procession.
1999, December 19 (3 copies)
National Anthem sung by Terry Shapiro, unknown student speaker, honorary degree to Elmer Johnson who spoke on the Metropolis 2020 Project and democratic capitalism. Alma mater (by Francisco Ruiz) sung by Terry Shapiro.
2000, May 13 (2 copies)
Includes the procession, National Anthem sung by Terry Shapiro, greetings and remarks by Lew Collens including introduction of "50 year" (1950) class members and comments about "Man on a Bench" prank. Bob Galvin presented Neal F. Lane (Assistant to the President of the U. S. for Science and Technology) for honorary degree and commencement speech on science and technology. Student speakers: Victoria Amelio and Tayo Ihimoyan. Presentation and hooding of graduate candidates and awarding of degrees to graduates and undergraduates. Stuart Cooper presented faculty/staff awards to Leroy D. Chapman, Nader Aderangi, and Catherine D'Amico. Ellen Jordan Reidy presented Alumni Association academic achievement awards. IIT cheer and song led by Terry Shapiro. Recessional.
2000, December 17 (1 copy)
Includes processional, National Anthem sung by Dean of Students Terry Shapiro, and welcome by President Lew Collens. Speakers are: Robert F. Bernard (MarchFirst, Inc.), Ernest Alexander Gomez (graduate student), Genevieve Elsie Cregar (undergraduate student) who compared the benefits of IIT's engineering program with those of other technological universities. Program ends with invitation by Ellen Jordan Reidy to join the alumni association, and the college cheer and alma mater led by Terry Shapiro, and recessional.
2001, May 13 (1 copy)
Video includes processional (Midway Brass Quintet), Star Spangled Banner sung by Terry Shapiro, opening remarks by Lew Collens, and recognition of alumni in attendance who have children graduating. Richard Ryan '51 is also recognized. William Bartholomay (new IIT trustee) introduced speaker Dr. Susan Solomon '77 (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientist; recipient of the U. S. Medal of Science) who is awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters and Science degree. Solomon's address is about being open to change as it facilitates scientific research and problem solving. Student speakers are David Joseph Smith (graduate) and Aimee Elizabeth Brasher (undergraduate). Program concludes with invitation by Ellen Jordan Reidy to join the alumni association, and the college cheer and alma mater led by Terry Shapiro, and recessional. Produced by Zaker Video Productions.
2001, December 16 (2 copies)
Graduate ceremony. Honorary degrees awarded to Richard (Dick) Jaffee and John Madigan, co-chairs of Pritzker-Galvin Challenge Campaign. Honorary degree recipient and commencement speaker: Dr. Michael S. Witherell, Director of Fermilab, who spoke on the role of science and technology education in the promoting national security in the 21st century. Student speaker: Jennifer Kohn. Ph.D. candidate Mayari Pritzker was presented with her diploma by her husband Robert Pritzker. Federico Vidargas-Birk, President of Alumni Association, welcomed alumni.
2002, May 18 (1 copy)
Lew Collens recognized 9 women of Alpha Sigma Alpha, Zeta Chapter, who organized the first sorority house in Chicago at IIT during the year. He also recognized nine candidates whose fathers had also graduated from IIT. Linda Manning presented honorary Ph.D. candidate and commencement speaker, James G. Roche, Secretary of the Air Force (1960 IIT graduate), who spoke on the value of a liberal education in technical training with reference to the war on terrorism. Student speaker: Emery Jordan. Usual closing song - the alma mater and cheer - was replaced with the premier singing of the new IIT fight (or loyalty) song, written and composed by Julie McCord (a VanderCook College of Music student); song was led by Terry Shapiro and accompanied by VanderCook musicians.
2002, December 14 (1 copy)
Undergraduate ceremony. National Anthem and IIT loyalty songs led by IIT students, Amy Kephart and Jennifer Wanzek; honorary degree recipient, John W. Roe, chair and CES of Exelon Corp., who spoke on corporate government reform and diversity of human culture. Undergraduate speaker: Christopher Mittendorf.
2002, December 14 (2 copies)
Graduate ceremony. Star Spangled Banner and IIT loyalty songs led by IIT students, Amy Kephart and Jennifer Wanzek; honorary degree recipient, Hamid Arastoopour, who spoke on professional ethics.
2003, May 18 (2 copies)
Undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremony. Greetings by Pres. Lew Collens with remarks about IIT's diverse student body. Honorary degree recipients: Richard J. Durbin (spoke on undocumented alien college students and U. S. immigration laws), also, Prof. Lin Weigan from China. Student speaker: Sandeep Reddy Gangireddy. Graduate students presented by Walter Eisenberg, retiring faulty member. Video by Zaker Video Productions, Inc.
2003, December 14 (1 copy)
Undergraduate commencement. Lew Collens cited the Wright Brother 100th anniversary of flight. Honorary degree recipient, Hermann Grunder, Director of Argonne National Laboratory, who invoked the graduates to creativity and daring. Undergraduate speaker: Mark Zachar.
2003, December 14 (1 copy)
Graduate Commencement. Allen Meyerson presented Candace Wark, Associate Prof. and Dean of MMAE department, who advised graduates about setting priorities, teamwork, and continuing education outside of the campus setting.
2004, May 15 (1 copy)
Undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremony. Greetings by Pres. Lew Collens. Honorary degree recipients: Martin (Marty) Cooper (spoke on good and bad technology). Student speaker: Kalinda Ashvin Parikh (spoke on diversity at IIT). ). Andreas Laszlo (grandson of Laszlo Moholy-Nagy) received an M.S. in Design.
2004, December 19 (1 copy)
Graduate commencement ceremony. National Anthem led by Virginia Foster. President Collins spoke of diversity and freedom; advised international students to spread freedom. Darsh T. Wasan spoke on six keys to success: Work hard, build relationships, seize opportunities, be a keen observer, develop teamwork skills, find a mentor.
2006, December 16 (1 copy)
Undergraduate commencement. National Anthem led by Virginia Foster. Greetings by Pres. Lew Collens. Honorary degree recipient: Robert Rosner (spoke on worldwide renaissance of applied science). Student speaker: Maram Kittaneh (spoke on parallels between campus growth and student personal growth).
2006, December 16 (1 copy)
Graduate commencement. National Anthem led by Virginia Foster. Greetings by Pres. Lew Collens. Honorary degree recipient: Helmut Jahn (spoke on five rules: 1) school just a start, not an end; 2) set daily goals; 3) don't not look back; 4) try harder every day; 5) what you do tomorrow has to better than what you do today).
2007, December 15 (1 copy)
Undergraduate commencement
2007, December 15 (1 copy)
Graduate commencement

Dates

  • Creation: 1999-2007

Creator

Language of Materials

Records are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Available for Research

Collection Size

25 video tapes

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Formerly 2001.055

Related Material

2001.022 Commencement Photos, 2001.054 Commencement Programs

Processor

Catherine Bruck, University Archivist 01/20/2003

Part of the Paul V. Galvin Library. University Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
35 West 33rd Street
Chicago IL 60616
(312) 567-5993

Paul V. Galvin Library

35 West 33rd Street | Chicago, IL | 60616
312.567.6847 library@iit.edu