TWU Spring Commencement May 11

4/29/02

DENTON — Texas Woman's University will hold commencement ceremonies on May 11.

Ceremonies are scheduled for 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. in the Kitty Magee Arena in Pioneer Hall, located along Bell Avenue. Receptions for each ceremony will follow on the second floor of the Student Center, located at the intersection of Bell Avenue and Administration Drive.

Students and faculty members who have tickets are invited to attend commencement ceremonies.

TWU Chancellor Dr. Ann Stuart will preside at each ceremony, which includes an academic procession, certification of degrees and a commencement address.

Approximately 451 undergraduate and 291 graduate degrees will be awarded.

Times for commencement reflect candidate assignments based on schools and colleges participating in the ceremonies listed below.

• 9 a.m. — Ceremony I for candidates from the College of Health Sciences and the College of Nursing. Dr. Jill Shugart, former superintendent of the Garland Independent School District and a TWU distinguished alumna, will be the commencement speaker. A reception will follow the ceremony from 10:30-11:30 a.m.

• Noon — Ceremony II for candidates from the College of Arts and Sciences. Dolores Barzune, a member of the Texas Woman's University Foundation Board and a TWU distinguished alumna, will be commencement speaker for ceremony II. A reception will follow from 1:30-2:30 p.m.

• 3 p.m. — Ceremony III for candidates from College of Professional Education, School of Occupational Therapy and School of Physical Therapy. Former Lubbock Mayor Mary “Windy” Sitton, a TWU distinguished alumna, will be the commencement speaker for ceremony III. A reception will follow from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Dr. Shugart earned her master of arts in history from TWU in 1972, and her doctoral degree in adult continuing education from TWU in 1980. She was named a TWU Distinguished Alumna in 1986.

Dr. Shugart's involvement with Garland ISD began as a first-grade student in 1946. She was an honor graduate of Garland High School in 1958, and began her teaching career at Sam Houston Middle School four years later. She taught for eight years at Garland High School and for five years at North Garland before becoming the first woman in the district to be named a high school assistant principal.

In 1979 she moved to the GISD administration building as director of communications, a position she held for three years before becoming assistant superintendent for educational operations. She was in that position until September of 1985 when she was named acting superintendent.

Three months later she was named superintendent of schools, a position she held for nearly 14 years.

Mrs. Barzune has been a community volunteer for more than 32 years. She earned her bachelor of science degree from TWU in 1963.

Mrs. Barzune is involved in many organizations and events that support the arts in the Dallas area. She serves as chair of the city of Dallas' Cultural Affairs Commission, which disburses more than $12 million each year to the arts community and oversees the care of the city's art collection. A former chair of the board of governors of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Mrs. Barzune continues to serve on the symphony's executive board and is part of an advance committee charged with the design of the symphony's upcoming $100 million endowment campaign.

She serves on the advisory council for the College of Fine Arts at the University of Texas at Austin, the executive board for the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University and the Dallas Planning Advisory Growth and Excellence Board of Texas Woman's University Dallas campus.

Mrs. Barzune also served as co-chair for the capital campaign of the Latino Cultural Center. She is on the Dallas Women's Museum board and a member of the Crystal Charity Ball.

She was named a TWU Distinguished Alumna in 1990.

Ms. Sitton earned a master of arts degree in counseling, specializing in psychology, from TWU in 1971. She received the Distinguished Alumna award from TWU in 1997.

Ms. Sitton began her political career in 1994 as a city of Lubbock council member. In 1997, she became the first woman to serve as mayor of Lubbock, and she was re-elected for two additional terms. As mayor, her priorities included improved public safety, increased economic development and support for education and the arts.

In 1996, she was selected to participate in the Leadership Texas Session Foundation for Women's Resources. In 1997, she was the first inductee into the Leadership Texas Hall of Fame, receiving the Woman of Distinction award.

She owns and manages Sitton's Selections Co., a firm specializing in home interior and exterior restoration, renovation and remodeling. In 2000, she was awarded the Best Business Leader Award by the Lubbock Avalanche Journal.

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For Further Information Contact:

Roy Kron
Director of News and Information
Tel: (940) 898-3456
e-mail: rkron@twu.edu