Nostalgic already

We’ve been telling you guys as they’ve been announced, but the final list of all Commencement and Class Day speakers, and the recipients of various other honors, has just been sent out. It does not include Barack Obama. It does include the professors who’ve won the Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching, the largest university-wide prize for faculty. This year’s winners are:

  • Mary Sheila S. Coronel, Toni Stabile Professor of Professional Practice in Investigative Journalism, (JSchool)
  • Kenneth B. Frampton, Ware Professor of Architecture, (GSAPP),
  • Richard Locke, Professor of professional practice in writing, (SoA)

and two you might actually have had, or at least heard of:

We’ve compiled a lot of useful information about Commencement on the right-hand sidebar, as well as various tools for “aiding” the last of your cramming. We’re almost there guys!

NEW YORK, May 10, 2011 — A number of distinguished professionals are featured speakers at more than 20 special events celebrating the commencement exercises of Columbia University’s 257th academic year. Events take place between Saturday, May 14, and Saturday, May 21.

Commencement Day Details

WHEN: Wednesday, May 18, beginning at 10:30 a.m. with the academic procession. That night, from dusk until after midnight, the spire of the Empire State Building will be lit in blue and white in honor of Columbia’s graduates.

WHO: University President Lee C. Bollinger presents the commencement address to more than 35,000 students, faculty members, staff and guests. Approximately 12,000 students are graduating. Due to capacity constraints commencement is not open to the public but a live Web cast can be viewed here.

NEWS MEDIA: Campus access and seating is granted to journalists registered in advance with Nick Obourn, no2201@columbia.edu. Check in at the Amsterdam Avenue gate at West 116th Street. Gate opens at 8:30 a.m. Click here for a map of Morningside Heights. The Broadway gate is closed and no parking is permitted on campus. Television crews must be in place by 9:00 a.m. Mult box is provided.

Class Days, Graduation Ceremonies, Notable Speakers

Columbia’s 13 graduate schools and its three undergraduate institutions — Columbia College, The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the School of General Studies — each host separate special events. Due to capacity constraints these events are not open to the public, but some events are Web cast and archived. To learn more, click here or call 212-854-8336. Speakers at events open to media coverage include:

  • Kofi Annan, diplomat and former Secretary General of the United Nations, speaks at the School of International and Public Affairs Commencement, 2:00 p.m., May 14, South Lawn, Morningside Heights campus
  • Ralph Izzo, CEO of Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G), speaks at the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science Class Day, 4:30 p.m., May 16, South Lawn, Morningside Heights campus
  • George W. Madison, general counsel at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, speaks at the Columbia Law School Graduation, 12:30 p.m., May 16, South Lawn, Morningside Heights campus
  • Roger Leeds, professor at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University and adjunct faculty member at Columbia Business School, speaks at the School of General Studies Class Day, 9:00 a.m., May 16, South Lawn, Morningside Heights campus
  • Alexandra Wallace Creed, senior vice president of NBC News, speaks at the Columbia College Class Day, 9:30 a.m., May 17, South Lawn, Morningside Heights campus (Gates open at 8:30 a.m.; camera call at 9 a.m.)
  • Nate Silver, creator of the FiveThirtyEight.com blog and columnist for The New York Times, delivers Columbia Journalism School’s Pringle Lecture, 10:00 a.m., May 17, Miller Theatre, Morningside Heights campus
  • John Hamre, president of the Wheelchair Sports Federation, speaks at the Doctor of Physical Therapy Graduation, 1:30 p.m., May 17, Physicians and Surgeons Alumni Auditorium, 650 West 168th Street, First Floor
  • Linda Rae Murray, president of the American Public Health Association, speaks at the Mailman School of Public Health Graduation, 4:00 p.m., May 17, New Balance Track & Field Arena, 216 Fort Washington Ave. at 168th Street
  • Timothy M. Kennedy, New York state senator, speaks at the Occupational Therapy Commencement/Convocation and Awards Ceremony, 10:00 a.m., May 17, Physicians and Surgeons Alumni Auditorium, 650 West 168th Street
  • Dr. Haile Debas, senior global health advisor at the University of California San Francisco, speaks at the College of Physicians and Surgeons Commencement, 5:00 p.m., May 17, Physicians and Surgeons Alumni Auditorium, 650 West 168th Street, First Floor
  • Wilhelmina M. Manzano, senior vice president and chief nursing officer, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare, speaks at the School of Nursing Graduation, 10:00 a.m., May 17, New Balance Track & Field Arena, 216 Fort Washington Ave. at 168th Street
  • Tony Kushner, playwright, speaks at the School of the Arts Celebration of Graduates, 2:00 p.m., May 18, Miller Theatre, Morningside Heights campus
  • Anika Rahman, president and CEO of Ms. Foundation for Women, speaks at the School of Social Work Graduation, 2:00 p.m., May 18, Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway
  • Al Anstey, managing director of Al Jazeera English, speaks at the Columbia Journalism School Commencement, 3:00 p.m., May 18, Roone Arledge Auditorium, Lerner Hall, Morningside Heights campus
  • Dr. William R. Calnon, president elect of the American Dental Association, speaks at the College of Dental Medicine Graduation, 10:30 a.m., May 19, New Balance Track & Field Arena, 216 Fort Washington Ave. at 168th Street
  • Wendy Slusser, assistant clinical professor of pediatrics and co-director of the Community Health and Advocacy Pediatric Residency Training (CHAT) Program, speaks at the Institute of Human Nutrition Graduation, 11:00 a.m., May 19, Roone Alredge Auditorium, Lerner Hall, Morningside Heights campus

Honorary Degrees, University Medal for Excellence

Columbia grants five honorary degrees at this year’s commencement:

  • Martin Meisel, Doctor of Letters
  • Joan A. Steitz, Doctor of Science
  • Eleanor Jackson Piel, Doctor of Laws
  • Keith Thomas, Doctor of Letters
  • Ornette Coleman, Doctor of Music

The University Medal for Excellence, awarded annually to outstanding alumni under the age of 45, is presented to Lydia Polgreen, 2000 M.S., Columbia Journalism School. For short bios of each recipient, click here.

Alumni Medalists

The University presents Alumni Medals for 2011 to:

Lisa Phillips Davis, 1976 B.A., Barnard College

Susan K. Feagin, 1974 B.A., School of General Studies

Margot H. Jaffe, D.D.S., 1980 D.D.S., 1981 D.M., 1985 D.M., College of Dental Medicine

Gertrude G. “G.G.” Michelson, 1947 LL.B., Columbia Law School

Mark Albert Momjian, 1983 B.A., Columbia College, 1986 J.D., Columbia Law School

Daniel V. Schiavello, 1975 B.S., 1976 M.S., Engineering and Applied Science

Neil L. Selinger, Esq., 1975 B.A., Columbia College

Kaspar F. Speckle, 1964 M.B.A., Columbia Business School

Jian Ni “Nina” Sun, 2001 M.I.A., School of International and Public Affairs

Dale Chakarian Turza, 1974 M.A., Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Martha G. Welch, M.D., 1971 M.D., College of Physicians and Surgeons

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Teaching

Teaching award recipients this year are:

  • Mary Sheila S. Coronel, Toni Stabile Professor of Professional Practice in Investigative Journalism, Columbia Journalism School
  • Kenneth B. Frampton, Ware Professor of Architecture, Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation
  • Richard A. Korb, senior lecturer, Department of Germanic Languages
  • Richard Locke, professor of professional practice in writing, School of the Arts
  • Jill S. Shapiro, lecturer, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology

A graduater via WikiCU