Campus-wide commencement, May 14

ATTENTION: Reporters covering higher education and general assignment beats; weekend, photo and TV news assignment desks

WHAT: The University of California, Berkeley, will celebrate its annual commencement honoring all graduating seniors in the Class of 2016, along with those earning graduate degrees. This year’s campus-wide ceremony is expected to draw 4,700 graduates and 25,000 spectators, including family members, friends, faculty and staff.

Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg will deliver the commencement address. Chancellor Nicholas Dirks will offer remarks, as will neuroscientist and philosopher Sir Colin Blakemore, who will accept the 2015 Elise and Walter A. Haas International Award.

Also speaking at the event will be UC Berkeley’s top graduating senior, Kaavya Valiveti, winner of this year’s University Medal, given for outstanding scholarship, public service and strength of character. Valiveti, 21, a mathematics major, earned a near-perfect GPA at Berkeley and has been named one of the nation’s outstanding female undergraduates in math. During her undergraduate career she also played harmonium at classical Indian music concerts and tutored local Latino grade schoolers.

WHEN:  Saturday, May 14, at 10 a.m. The media check-in table will open at 8:30 a.m. News media are encouraged to arrive before 9:30 a.m.

WHERE:  California Memorial Stadium, on the southeast corner of the UC Berkeley campus (See campus map). Reporters must stop at the media check-in table located between Gates 1 and 2 to receive credentials. Bags are allowed but will be checked and tagged. Parking is extremely limited. TV trucks will be directed to an adjacent lot.

DETAILS: There are details on the campuswide commencement, as well as departmental ceremonies for the spring 2016 graduation season availabe online.

RELATED STORY: Raising a child at UC Berkeley (video profile of graduating student-parent Dajanaye Adrow-Hubbard, 23)

CONTACT: Credentialed news media wishing to cover all or part of the event should R.S.V.P. to Roqua Montez, executive director of communications and media relations, at [email protected].