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Contact Information

University and Community Relations
PO Box 1510
Pembroke, NC 28372

Phone: 910.521.6249
Fax: 910.521.6694
Email: relations@uncp.edu

Location: Lumbee Hall, Room 427 and
Jacobs Hall, Suite A
Campus Map

 


The 2008 Spring Commencement will be held Saturday, May 3, 2008, at 10 a.m. on the field next to Lumbee Hall.

Approximately 477 students are expected to graduate. Keynote speaker is author Scott Turow.

Parking is available on the west side of the Jones Athletic Center (via University Road), east of the James B. Chavis University Center and east of the Dial Humanities Building (via Prospect/Odum Road). Handicapped parking is available in the lot north of the Dial Humanities Building (via entrance to Lumbee Hall).

Please arrive early. Entrance opens at 9 a.m. The entrance is located on the east side of the field.

Dress for warm weather. Restrooms are available in Lumbee Hall and the Dial Humanities Building. If you wish to use an umbrella to protect yourself from the sun or rain, please stand behind the seated area to not obstruct the view of others.

For more information about Commencement, contact the Office of the Registrar at 910.521.6298 or registrar@uncp.edu, or University and Community Relations at 910.6249 or relations@uncp.edu.

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Graduates are to meet in the auxiliary gym of the Jones Athletic Center by 8:30 a.m.

Faculty are to robe and line-up in the lobby of Lumbee Hall by 9 a.m.

Executive Staff and administrators are to line-up on the second floor of Lumbee Hall by 9 am.

Board of Trustees and platform party are to line-up on the fourth floor of Lumbee Hall by 9 a.m.

  9:00 a.m. Entrance opens for family and guests
  9:55 a.m. Entrance closes; Prelude by University Band
10:00 a.m. Processional of graduates, faculty, and platform party
   
  Commencement Speaker: Scott Turow
   
 

A reception will follow Commencement in the lounge of the James B. Chavis University Center.


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KEYNOTE SPEAKER: SCOTT TUROW

Mystery-suspense author Scott Turow will be the commencement speaker for The University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Scott TurowScott Turow is a writer and attorney. He is the author of seven best-selling novels: “Presumed Innocent” (1987), “The Burden of Proof “ (1990), “Pleading Guilty” (1993), “The Laws of Our Fathers” (1996), “Personal Injuries” (1999), “Reversible Errors” (2002) and “Ordinary Heroes“ (2005). A novella, “Limitations,” was published as a paperback in November 2006 by Picador following its serialization in The New York Times Magazine. His works of non-fiction include “One L” (1977) about his experience as a law student, and “Ultimate Punishment” (2003), a reflection on the death penalty.

He frequently contributes essays and op-ed pieces to publications such as The New York Times, Washington Post, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, Playboy and The Atlantic.

Mr. Turow’s books have won a number of literary awards, including the Heartland Prize in 2003 for “Reversible Errors,” the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award in 2004 for “Ultimate Punishment” and Time Magazine’s Best Work of Fiction in 1999 for “Personal Injuries.” His books have been translated into more than 25 languages, sold more than 25 million copies world-wide and have been adapted into one full-length film and two television miniseries.

Mr. Turow continues to work as an attorney. He has been a partner in the Chicago office of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, a national law firm, since 1986, concentrating on white collar criminal defense, while also devoting a substantial amount of time to pro bono matters. In one such case, he represented Alejandro Hernandez in the successful appeal that preceded Hernandez’s release after nearly 12 years in prison, including five on death row, for a murder he did not commit.

Scott Turow was born in Chicago in 1949. He graduated with high honors from Amherst College in 1970. That year, he received an Edith Mirrielees Fellowship to the Stanford University Creative Writing Center, which he attended from 1970-1972. From 1972-1975, Mr. Turow taught creative writing at Stanford, as E.H. Jones Lecturer.

In 1975, he entered Harvard Law School, graduating with honors in 1978. From 1978-1986, he was an Assistant United States Attorney in Chicago. He was a prosecutor in the trial of Illinois Attorney General William J. Scott, who was convicted of tax fraud. Mr. Turow was also lead government counsel in a number of the trials connected to Operation Greylord, a federal investigation of corruption into the Illinois judiciary.

Mr. Turow has been active in a number of charitable causes including organizations that promote literacy, education and legal rights. In 1997-1998, he served as president of the Authors Guild, which is the national organization for professional writers, and continues to serve on its governing board. He is also a trustee of Amherst College. Additionally, he performs with the Rock Bottom Remainders, a musical group of best-selling authors raising funds for various literacy charities.

Mr. Turow has been appointed to a number of public bodies. He is a member of Illinois Executive Ethics Commission. From 2002-2004, he served as chair of the Illinois State Appellate Defender’s Commission, which oversees the state agency that represents indigent criminal defendants in their appeals. He served as one of the 14 members of the commission appointed in March 2000, by Illinois Governor George Ryan to consider reform of the capital punishment system.  From 2000-2002, Mr. Turow was a member of the Illinois State Police Merit Board, which determines matters of hiring, promotion and discipline for members of the Illinois State Police. He also has served in 1997 and 1998 on the United States Senate Nominations Commission for the Northern District of Illinois, which recommends appointments of federal judges.

Scott Turow has three adult children.  He lives outside Chicago.

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BROADCAST

Commencement will be broadcast by WNCP-TV Channel 6 on Robeson County Time Warner Cable on Monday, May 5 at 11 a.m. and Tuesday, May 6 at 11 a.m..

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WEBCAST

Archived Webcasts of Commencement

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Updated: Monday, May 5, 2008

 

© The University of North Carolina at Pembroke
PO Box 1510 Pembroke, NC 28372-1510 • 800.949.UNCP (8627) • 910.521.6000