TO: Deans; Department Chairs; Communications Liaisons

FROM: Public Relations Staff

SUBJECT: Commencement Publicity

DATE: November 12, 1999

Winter commencement is coming up December 16, and once again we are asking your cooperation in alerting us regarding graduates whose stories may be of special interest to the media. Editors often look for human-interest stories during graduation time. Additionally, President Reid sometimes recognizes certain graduates publicly during commencement ceremonies.

We are seeking December graduates for whom earning a degree is a particularly unusual, exceptional or out-of-the-ordinary achievement. Some examples: a young adult and grandparent or several members of the same immediate family graduating together; a person who overcame extreme hardship; a person over 65; a local "celebrity" essentially, anything that is different enough to interest a large number of people.

If you are aware of any such human-interest stories, please let us know as soon as possible so we can get the word out in advance to appropriate media. We'll also need a phone number where the person(s) can be reached. Send suggestions to anyone in the Public Relations Department (3222 Faculty/Administration Building), call us at 577- 2150, fax to 577-8154, or send e-mail to t.sakely@wayne.edu.

Thanks for your assistance.

PS: Please share this memo with others who may be able to make suggestions.