Mines' new Recreation Center to host Midyear Convocation

GOLDEN, Colo., Dec. 7, 2007 – The Colorado School of Mines Midyear Convocation ceremony, Dec. 14 at 9:30 a.m., will be held for the first time in the Lockridge Arena in the new Student Recreation Center, located at the intersection of Maple and 16th streets in Golden.

Dr. Robert J. Birgeneau, chancellor of the University of California at Berkeley , will deliver the commencement address.

Of the 299 degrees to be conferred, 151 are bachelor of science degrees, 130 are master's degrees and 18 are doctorate degrees.

During the ceremony, an honorary degree will be awarded to Birgeneau, as well as to Evgeny Levashov, vice rector for international relations at the State Technological University Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys.

Mines Medals will be presented to outgoing Board of Trustees members John Coors, president, chairman and chief executive officer of CoorsTek Inc., and David Wagner, owner of David Wagner & Associates, P.C. Both men served two terms on the board beginning in 1999.

The $25 million Student Recreation Center, which opened in August, was funded entirely through donations, bond financing and student fees. The facility is home to the Mines Outdoor Recreation Center, an 8-lane, 25-yard swimming pool, 4,000-square-foot climbing wall, elevated jogging track, 5,500-square-foot Adolph Coors Foundation Fitness Lab, juice bar, two multi-purpose activity rooms and a recreation gymnasium.