Washington University Commencement is 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 15

WHAT: Washington University's 148th Commencement. The university will bestow 2,765 degrees on 2,642 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. The university also will bestow honorary degrees on four individuals.

WHO: • Wendy Kopp, chief executive officer and founder of Teach For America, will deliver the 2009 Commencement address.

• During the ceremony, Kopp also will receive an honorary doctor of humanities degree.Washington University's three other honorary degree recipients and their degrees are: Robert L. Virgil Jr., Ph.D., emeritus dean of the Olin Business School, emeritus professor of accounting and emeritus trustee of Washington University, doctor of laws; Robert H. Waterston, M.D., Ph.D., the William H. Gates III Endowed Chair in Biomedical Sciences and chairman of the Department of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle, doctor of science; and Patty Jo Watson, Ph.D., the Edward Mallinckrodt Distinguished University Professor of Anthropology Emerita in Arts & Sciences at Washington University, doctor of humane letters.

WHERE: Brookings Quadrangle, which is directly west of Brookings Hall, the university's main administration building that sits on the hill overlooking Forest Park.

WHEN: 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 15, 2009

MEDIA RESERVED SEATING: News organizations sending a reporter to Commencement need to call Sue Killenberg McGinn by 5 p.m. May 14 to make arrangements for a reserved-seating ticket. Mult boxes will be available at the seats and near the stage.

MEDIA PARKING: Reserved media parking is available near the south end of Brookings Hall. Take Forsyth Boulevard or Forest Park Parkway to Hoyt Drive; take Hoyt to south leg of the circle drive that leads up to Brookings Hall, where a parking attendant will direct you. Please show attendant a media ID.

LIVE TV BROADCASTS: To reserve live TV parking close to the stage, trucks must be in place by 6 a.m. Friday; otherwise live trucks will have to park at the opposite end of the Quad. TV stations who plan to shoot live from Brookings Quad need to make arrangements with Liam Otten. Please call 314- 935-8494 (on 5/14) or 314-324-2076 (5/15).

VIOLENT WEATHER PLAN: Commencement will be held outside rain or shine. However, in case of violent weather, Commencement for undergraduates will be held in the Athletic Complex's Field House, still beginning at 8:30 a.m. If the violent weather schedule is necessary, media will be notified by 7:30 a.m. Friday.

For more information the morning of Commencement, call Sue Killenberg McGinn at 314-603-6008.