To kick off the celebration, a graduation recognition dinner was held on the evening of May 9 to honor the graduates of programs offered at a distance. Students, faculty, and staff finally had the opportunity to meet one another and enjoy sharing stories of their experiences in person. For most, this was the very first opportunity in their UW-Platteville student career to see each other.

Each graduate was introduced to Chancellor David Markee and was greeted by numerous faculty and staff. After lots of socializing, eating, and drinking, everyone in attendance enjoyed the introductions and welcomes made by the UW-Platteville Director of the Alternative Delivery Systems, Dawn Drake, and the Vice Chancellor and Provost, Carol Sue Butts. Other presenters included the coordinators of each of the distance learning programs: Sofoh Hassane, Education; Cheryl Banachowski-Fuller, Criminal Justice; Lisa Riedle, Engineering; Tony Munos, Project Management; and Marge Karsten and Susan Hansen, Business Administration. Each graduate's name was announced and those in attendance were presented with a small token of appreciation and congratulations. The business program also honored the winners of their portfolio and outstanding senior awards. Representatives from the Alumni Association were also on hand to help graduates become active members of their alma mater.

Left to right: Business Administration Online Program Coordinator Susan Hansen; Business Administration graduates Mark Ferguson, Karen Zimmerman, Deborah Gosa; and Business Administration Print Program Coordinator Marge Karsten.

Left to right: Project Management Program Coordinator Tony Munos and graduates Doreen Treuden, Marcus Weemes, and William Haskins.

Although the possibility of rain moved the graduation ceremony inside the Williams Field House on Saturday, May 10, it didn't damper the spirits of the graduates and their guests. Immediately following the ceremony, graduates of the distance learning programs were invited to celebrate their achievements by attending a banquet held in the Alumni Lounge of the Pioneer Student Center. Chancellor David Markee, Vice Chancellor and Provost Carol Sue Butts, several deans, faculty members, and the Distance Learning Center staff were there to chat with guests and congratulate them again on their achievements.

The virtual graduation web site was available at two computer terminals in the Pioneer Student Center during graduation weekend. Many students took advantage and added personal messages to their classmates' yearbook and viewed student interviews online.

If you haven't had a chance to visit the virtual graduation web site, now's the time to do so. Feel free to post a message for one of the graduates, watch their interviews or those of the faculty, or view the entire banquet ceremony. Visit the distance learning web site and click on the "Virtual Graduation" link. Because the web site will be archived at the end of the summer, we are making a CD version of the yearbook available for purchase. Watch the web site for more details.

Once again, on behalf of the entire Distance Learning Center, I would like to extend congratulations to all the spring graduates of 2003. Be proud of yourselves and relish in the fact that you have achieved such a tremendous goal! Best wishes with all your future endeavors.

Left to right: Criminal Justice Professor Tom Caywood; Criminal Justice Program Coordinator Cheryl Banachowski-Fuller; and graduates Mike Snow, Steve Madsen, James Conroy, and Kristine Thomas.

Engineering Program Coordinator Lisa Riedle and graduate Ryan Melbard.

Congratulations to all the graduates of the distance learning programs!