Commencement

HCC commencement scheduled for Friday Howard Community College will hold commencement exercises for its 36th graduating class at 4 p.m. Friday on the campus, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. Padraic M. Kennedy, former president of the Columbia Association, will give the Boyd Commencement Address. In recognition of their contributions to the HCC community and students, honorary degrees will be conferred upon Joanne T. Davis, former chairwoman of the Commission on the Future of Howard Community College; her husband, Michael W. Davis, who served on the HCC Educational Foundation's board of directors; and U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski.

Newly minted Johns Hopkins University graduates were proudly proclaiming themselves "pigs" yesterday after an unusual but apparently effective commencement speech by Baltimore Ravens head coach Brian Billick. The football coach repeatedly invoked a homespun bacon-and-egg metaphor to win over a student body that had questioned the appropriateness of having a sports figure honored at an elite college known mostly for its academic rigor and ultra-nerd personality. "In a bacon-and-egg breakfast, the chicken is involved, but the pig is committed," Billick said from the lectern at Hopkins' lacrosse field.

Two years ago, Robert Zmarzly watched his mother graduate from the College of Notre Dame, and he got an idea. They both wanted to pursue master's degrees, so why not do it together?Yesterday, Robert and Carol Zmarzly were the last of 505 students who were awarded degrees at the 101st commencement exercises at the College of Notre Dame.Although the two didn't study the same subjects -- Carol Zmarzly earned her master's in management while her son received his in education -- they did occasionally cross paths.

With thundering applause, the graduates of Loyola College's Class of 1999 welcomed Andrea Mitchell, NBC News' chief foreign affairs correspondent, to the Baltimore Arena, where she delivered the keynote address at their commencement ceremony yesterday morning."

Villa Julie College President Carolyn Manuszak marked her last commencement as head of the college yesterday afternoon, as 341 students received their degrees during a ceremony on the campus lawn.Manuszak, who will retire on June 30 after leading the college for 33 years, received a proclamation from Baltimore County in front of the largest graduating class in the school's history.While 329 students received undergraduate degrees, 12 were the first to receive master's degrees in advanced information technologies, the only such program in the state.

COLLEGE PARK -- James Carville was on a roll yesterday morning -- his eyes narrowing, his arms flailing and his voice rising as he addressed a nearly packed house that was using makeshift fans to battle a humid, stifling heat.As the noted political strategist filled the room with his Louisiana cadences, it was easy to imagine you were in a revival tent listening to the circuit preacher warn of the dangers of perdition, not in Cole Field House where most of the nearly 5,000 members of the University of Maryland, College Park's class of 1999 were enjoying their commencement.

Community college awards a record 1,190 degreesAnne Arundel Community College yesterday awarded a record 1,190 degrees at its 36th graduation ceremony on the Arnold campus.Leon Sagan, a retiring mathematics professors who has taught at the school for 34 years, was one of the speakers. Valedictorian was Elizabeth Henton of Annapolis, who spent 10 years getting an associate's degree while working full time as a computer programmer and analyst.This year the school gave the President's Community Service award to Larry Griffin, who has run We Care and Friends, a volunteer group that provides Thanksgiving meals to the homeless.

Known as one of the world's leading advocates for alleviating hunger, U.S. Rep. Tony P. Hall served a taste of his passion during Loyola College's commencement yesterday, urging graduates to help others as they pursue their careers."

COMMENCEMENT today at Towson University completes this academic year's round of midyear graduations at Maryland's major public universities.These are the forgotten commencements, lost in the holiday bustle and all but ignored by the news media. But although few midterm graduates wear bathing suits under their robes, winter's chill doesn't dim the enthusiasm.Here are a few highlights:Towson's first graduation since it dumped "State" from its name last summer takes place this afternoon for 1,199 bachelor's and 248 master's degree recipients.

Carroll Community College will graduate 260 students at commencement exercises at 7: 30 tonight in the Physical Education Learning Center at Western Maryland College.The commencement speaker will be Freeman A. Hrabowski III, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County since 1992. He is active in scientific and educational organizations around the state and country.His book, "Beating the Odds," which focuses on how to be aparent and high-achieving African-American males in science, recently was published.

The Howard County Public School System has announced its commencement schedule for the high school class of 2009. Graduations will take place at Merriweather Post Pavilion on these dates: May 26: Atholton, noon; Mount Hebron, 4 p.m.; Centennial, 8 p.m. May 27: Oakland Mills, noon; Wilde Lake, 4 p.m.; Howard, 8 p.m. May 28: Hammond, noon; Glenelg, 4 p.m.; Reservoir, 8 p.m. May 29: River Hill, 8 a.m.; Marriotts Ridge, 11:30 a.m.; Long Reach, 4 p.m....

It's clear the future holds great opportunities. It also holds great pitfalls. The trick will be to avoid the pitfalls, seize the opportunities, and get home by six o'clock. Woody Allen Good morning. To our honorary readers and to their family members and friends, we bring greetings. This is a season of personal reckoning, as commencements are under way at colleges and universities throughout Maryland. In great halls and on great lawns, graduates are implored to hitch their wagons to the stars, shoot for the moon and, by all means, with Godspeed.

Cecil College commencement today Cecil College will hold its 39th annual commencement ceremonies today on the North East campus. The graduation will include students who were awarded degrees or certificates in December and wish to participate in the formal commencement. The college will award 189 associate degrees and 58 certificates. Some students will receive more than one degree or certificate. The 2008 commencement is the first such ceremony since the college changed its name on July 1, 2007, and students were given the option of having "Cecil Community College" or "Cecil College" imprinted on their diplomas.

Students from Coppin State University, Villa Julie College and the University of Maryland, Baltimore received degrees yesterday, marking the second week of the year's commencement season. Comptroller Peter Franchot used part of his address to Coppin's graduating class of 143 graduate students to urge them to resist "the siren call of slot machines and casino gambling" and "not allow your state to resort to gimmicks and quick fixes," according to his prepared remarks. Franchot, a Montgomery County Democrat, is a leading opponent of expanding gambling in Maryland, an issue that will be decided by voters in a November referendum to amend the state constitution to allow 15,000 "video lottery terminals" across the state.

Hundreds, including families and friends, gathered outdoors on the Great Lawn on campus Sunday for the 216th commencement ceremony of St. John's College in Annapolis. A total of 128 students were honored during the ceremony.

Baltimore native and National Public Radio fixture Farai Chideya is used to addressing a large audience. The News and Notes correspondent reaches hundreds of thousands of people of all ages with every broadcast. Her alternative news blog, popandpolitics.com, is popular among 20- and 30-somethings. And two of her three books are used as college textbooks. The broadcaster based in Culver City, Calif., also has shared her thoughts and wisdom at college commencement ceremonies. Now she's about to return to Maryland to share some more.

CHICAGO -- If you go to a football game, a rock concert or a fraternity kegger, you will not be surprised to find people screaming, laughing, bumping chests, ringing cowbells, baying at the moon and generally shedding their inhibitions. If you attend a wedding ceremony, a funeral or a confirmation, however, you may expect those around you to comport themselves in a polite and restrained manner. School commencement exercises used to fall into the latter category, but they have been moving - make that descending - toward the former.

--Time, says Julius Blattner, hasn't exactly been on his side lately. In fact, it has been flying by. But it isn't just the last-minute crush of details for a graduating senior that has had Blattner, 22, running so hard. It's a military assignment to Iraq that has loomed over his last days as a civilian and a student. A member of the Maryland National Guard for nearly five years, Army Spc. Blattner requested and got permission to leave his unit in Baltimore County, the 1175th Infantry Regiment, just long enough to dash home to deliver the commencement speech to about 600 graduates at Salisbury University yesterday morning.

Gov. Martin O'Malley, in his first commencement speech as governor, told more than 1,400 graduates at Anne Arundel Community College last night that the country and the world are waiting - and counting on them to move society forward. In a keynote speech that began with a light confession - that "Navy and Johns Hopkins [University] didn't invite me" - O'Malley praised community colleges as "where America goes to college ... very much like a community garden of opportunity." At the college's 45th commencement, under an illuminated white tent on an athletic field, O'Malley said he chose to come to the campus because of its reputation for inclusion and diversity.

Thanks so much for that round of imaginary applause. Please be seated. Before we begin, one small request: Kindly turn off your cell phones and Tasers. Shortly after I was invited to write a few words about Maryland's nondescript crop of college commencement speakers, a number came to my attention: 4,216. According to a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Education, who unfortunately can't be with us today, that's how many two- and four-year institutions of higher learning there are in this country.