The University of Tennessee's College of Arts and Sciences commencement ceremony - during which UT will grant an honorary doctorate degree to Dolly Parton - will be a ticketed event for graduates and their guests only.
The commencement ceremony will be held Friday, May 8, in Thompson-Boling Arena. The arena "will be at full capacity" due to high interest in Parton's appearance, UT Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy Cheek said today in a memo to UT faculty, staff and students.
UT won't be able to accommodate additional faculty, staff or general admission attendees as a result.
Parton will be awarded a doctorate of humane and musical letters. The UT Board of Trustees approved the degree for the entertainer, philanthropist and Sevier County native during its winter meeting in February.
"This is a historic event as it is only the second honorary degree to be granted by UT Knoxville," Cheek wrote. "As you might expect, we've received a tremendous response for the ceremony. Our first priority is to our graduates to ensure their friends and family can attend the ceremony."
In order to participate in the ceremony, graduates must have a seating card, which serves as a ticket into the arena and into the graduate seating section on the arena floor, according to UT's Web site. Students must be present and must show photo identification in order to receive the seating card. Graduates will receive guest tickets with their seating cards, and guests must present tickets in order to attend the commencement ceremony.
Others will be able to view the live televised ceremony at the University Center auditorium, as well as via on-campus TV stations and UT's cable channel, Comcast digital channel 194. The event also will be webcast and will be available for viewing through archives.
Individual commencement ceremonies begin May 6 and continue through May 8.
More details as they develop online and in Friday's News Sentinel.
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 1
angusparvo#215458 writes:
Yay for Dolly! Boo for the ugly error in the very first sentence.
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