December graduates to celebrate at Saturday's 2005 winter convocation ceremony |
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28 November 2005 ATTENTION: Weekend editors and reporters, higher education reporters |
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Contact: Media Relations
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WHAT
The 2005 December Graduates Convocation, a campus-wide celebration for the approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, next month as well as for about 900 undergraduates who earned degrees last summer. Graduates will take part in a procession in caps and gowns, but no diplomas will be awarded at this event.
December convocation has grown steadily since its inception in 2000. "That year, 125 grads and their families held a small reception at Alumni House. Now, five years later, we anticipate over 2,000 grads, family members and friends will attend this year's event," said Jason Simon, associate executive director of alumni and student relations for the California Alumni Association.
WHEN
11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3
WHERE
Zellerbach Auditorium. The ceremony is open to graduates and their families. Tickets are required, and all have been distributed. Reporters are welcome.
WHO
The keynote speaker is John Cho, an actor who graduated from UC Berkeley in 1996. Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau and California Alumni Association President Debbie Cole also will speak at the event. The student address will be given by 2005 graduate Jillian Jones and a musical tribute by Gina Gloria, who also is graduating. The California Golden Overtones and the Men's Octet will perform.
DETAILS
Cho starred as Harold in the 2004 comedy "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle," a movie about two roommates roaming the state of New Jersey one night in search of White Castle hamburgers.
He also has had substantial roles in the movies "Shopping for Fangs" and "Better Luck Tomorrow" and supporting roles in films including "Big Fat Liar," "Wag the Dog," "Bowfinger," "Down to Earth," "Solaris," the "American Pie" trilogy, and "Evolution." His TV credits include starring in "Off Centre" and "The Tiger Woods Story" and guest-starring on the WB Network's "Felicity," "Charmed" and "The Magnificent Seven."
Born in Seoul and raised in Los Angeles, Cho developed an interest in acting after studying English at UC Berkeley and getting involved in the Berkeley Repertory Theater. He currently lives in Los Angeles.