Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax; 713/743-8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2007

Contact: Richard Bonnin
713/743-8155 (office)
281/840-9820 (cell)
rbonnin@uh.edu

About 6,700 students ranging in age from 18 to 92 will cross the stage during the University of Houston 2007 spring commencement ceremonies this week. A total of 4,653 students will receive bachelor’s degrees, while 1,259 will receive master’s degrees and 274 will earn doctorate degrees. Five hundred and five students will receive special professional degrees. Included among the graduates are 32 students from Beijing who are part of the Bauer College of Business’s first graduating class of Chinese MBA students. Please consider these stories as you plan for graduation coverage.

IT ALL ADDS UP: 92-YEAR-OLD TO GRADUATE WITH BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN MATH

Henry Pitcher, 92, will receive a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics from the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, completing a quest that began in 1932 when he enrolled at Virginia’s Washington and Lee University to study engineering. The Great Depression forced him to drop out two years later to find work.

What followed has been a life well-lived, during which Pitcher has continued to challenge himself, said his daughter, Cynthia Pitcher. He worked for M.D. Kellogg, now part of Halliburton, and traveled extensively as head of the company's foreign construction operations.

“You name it: He’s been there in the world,” she said.

Pitcher and his wife moved to Houston more than 30 years ago, where they lived on and off until he retired here in the early 1980s. He then studied to become a certified real estate appraiser and worked as an appraiser for 10 years until he retired again at age 85. Pitcher also began running in his 70s, competing in both the New York and Houston marathons.

In 1978 he resumed pursuit of his education, this time at the University of Houston, where he took classes off and on until 1984. This past fall, Pitcher, whose wife died a couple of years ago, renewed his quest for a degree, contacting university officials to find out how many hours he needed to graduate. After reviewing Pitcher’s transfer credits, administrators determined he had enough hours for his diploma.

Contact: Susan Hammons, 713-743-2624 or 713-816-6779.

BUSINESS BEYOND BORDERS: BEIJING STUDENTS COMPLETE UNIQUE BAUER PROGRAM

UH will confer degrees on 32 students in Beijing who are enrolled in an executive master’s of business administration in global energy management (GEMBA) program offered by the Bauer College of Business. Bauer initiated the program in 2006, offering it to senior executives in China’s three largest energy companies. The specialized curriculum provides industry workers with the knowledge and skills necessary to advance their careers in the global energy sector.

The GEMBA program is unique to the Bauer College and sets a standard for educational programs in this industry. For the past two years business professors have traveled to China to teach the class courses in the energy value chain, international energy finance and emerging energy technologies. The students recently completed their coursework in Houston and will participate in this week’s commencement activities.

“The GEMBA graduation cements Bauer’s position as a leader and innovator in training students for the global economy,” said Latha Ramchand, associate dean of Graduate and Professional Programs at Bauer.

Contact: Shelley Nadel, 713-4348 or 281-797-1442.

A MATTER OF DEGREES: VETERAN BROADCASTER, FORMER REGENT HONORED

The University of Houston will present honorary Doctor of Humane Letters to two of its outstanding alumni. Broadcast journalist Ray Miller and Houston businessman and former UH System Board of Regents chairman Leonard Rauch will
be presented honorary degrees during separate commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 11. Miller will receive his honorary degree during the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences commencement at 9 a.m., and Rauch will be honored during the C.T. Bauer College of Business graduate commencement at 7 p.m.

Many audiences are familiar with Miller from his work as newscaster for KPRC radio and KPRC Channel 2, where he also was news director. Miller earned acclaim from his television programs “The Eyes of Texas” and “Ray Miller’s Texas.” He is working on a new series titled “Texas, Our Texas.” Rauch served on the UHS Board of Regents for three consecutive terms, from 1967-1987, the longest tenure in the institution’s history.

Contact: Mike Emery, 713-743-8186.

Below is a list of commencement ceremonies.

Friday, May 11

College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Hofheinz Pavilion, 9 a.m.

Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management
Cullen Performance Hall, 10 a.m.

UH Law Center
Hofheinz Pavilion, 2 p.m.

College of Technology
Hofheinz Pavilion, 6 p.m.

The Honors College
Location (to be announced), 6:30 p.m.

C.T. Bauer College of Business (Graduate)
Cullen Performance Hall, 7 p.m.

Saturday, May 12

College of Education
Hofheinz Pavilion, 9 a.m.

College of Pharmacy
Cullen Performance Hall, 9 a.m.

Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture
Architecture Atrium, 1 p.m.

C.T. Bauer College of Business (Undergraduate)
Hofheinz Pavilion, 1 p.m.

Graduate College of Social Work
Cullen Performance Hall, 1 p.m.

Cullen College of Engineering
Hofheinz Pavilion, 5 p.m.

College of Optometry
Cullen Performance Hall, 5 p.m.

Sunday, May 13

College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Hofheinz Pavilion, 2 p.m.

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.