The president of the University of Wisconsin System, Kevin Reilly (left), will address graduates and their families at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s spring commencement ceremonies on Sunday, May 18.

Reilly will speak to more than 1,200 graduates in the Specht Memorial Forum (Sundial) in two ceremonies. Associate and baccalaureate degrees in the College of Letters and Science will be presented at the 10 a.m. ceremony. Doctoral, master’s and baccalaureate degrees in the College of Professional Studies, College of Fine Arts and Communication and the College of Natural Resources will be presented at the 2 p.m. ceremony. This spring’s graduating class includes students ages 19 to 56.

The commencement programs will open with the presentation of flags by UWSP’s ROTC color guard. The national anthem will be sung by senior music education major Melissa Konik at both ceremonies. Presiding over the ceremonies are Chancellor Linda Bunnell, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Mark Nook and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Bob Tomlinson. Bunnell will give the welcome and charge to the graduates.

Representing the class of 2008, Kyle Borkenhagen of Baraboo will speak at the 10 a.m. ceremony and Jayna David of Slinger will speak at the 2 p.m. ceremony. Deans from their respective colleges will assist the chancellor in the presentation of diplomas. Professors Rebecca Stephens and C.Y. Allen will introduce each candidate for graduation.

Patrick Braatz of Portland, Ore., a 1984 UWSP graduate and president of the UWSP Alumni Association Board of Directors, will give the charge to alumni. Music will be provided by the UWSP Commencement Band, conducted by Assistant Professor of Music Brendan Caldwell.

Reilly, the sixth president of the UW System, leads a workforce of 40,000 faculty members, academic and classified staff and graduate assistants at two doctoral universities, 11 comprehensives, 13 freshman-sophomore UW Colleges and the statewide UW-Extension. Together these institutions serve more than 170,000 resident students and reach more than one million state citizens through outreach and continuing education programs. Reilly is also responsible for the system’s $4.3 billion annual budget, made up of state support, federal funding, tuition and fees, and private gifts.

Before becoming system president in 2004, Reilly was the chancellor of UW-Extension for four years and its provost and vice chancellor for four years prior. A native of New York City, he came to Wisconsin from the State University of New York System, where he was the associate provost for Academic Programs and then Secretary of the University.

Reilly has served on numerous educational commissions, boards and committees and is a founding member of the UW System Federal Relations Council. He has authored and edited books and articles on higher education policy, accreditation, biography and Irish studies.

Reilly earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Notre Dame and his master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of Minnesota. He and his wife, Kate, reside at Brittingham House in Madison. They are the parents of three children.

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