MILLERSVILLE, Pa., April 10, 2008—Commencement at Millersville University will be held on Saturday, May 10 at 10 a.m. in Biemesderfer Stadium. This year’s commencement speaker will be Dr. Kenneth R. Melani, president and CEO of Highmark.

President and CEO since 2003, Melani is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Highmark Inc.—one of the largest Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in the country with 19,000 employees serving more than 23 million people nationally through health, dental, vision and life and casualty insurance products and services.

During the ceremony, honorary doctorate degrees will be given to Dr. Charles Winter and M. Diane Koken ‘72.  Winter donated $1 million dollars to support Millersville’s planned visual and performing arts center.  A world renowned surgeon based in Lancaster, Winter has been a friend of the University since two of his daughters graduated from Millersville.

Koken is the former Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Insurance Commissioner.  As Pennsylvania’s longest-serving Insurance Commissioner (from 1997 to February 2007), Koken served in the administrations of three governors.  She was elected to the board of directors of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company in April 2007.  Koken graduated magna cum laude from Millersville University in 1972 and earned a law degree from Villanova University School of Law. Her father, the late James E. Koken, was a former chemistry professor at Millersville.

Immediately following the commencement ceremony, a reception will be held on the lawn between Byerly and Gerhart Halls.  Light refreshments will be offered, and faculty, staff, families and friends may take informal photographs at this site.In the event of severe inclement weather, two separate successive ceremonies will be held in Pucillo Gym. 

Guests with special needs and small children who may not be comfortable in bleacher seating can view a live broadcast of the ceremony in the Student Memorial Center's (SMC) Reighard Multipurpose Room. 

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Media Contact:
Janet Kacskos, APR
Director of Communications
Millersville University
717/872-3723 - office
717/368-2502 - cell
Janet.kacskos@millersville.edu

Related Links:

• Commencement Homepage