9,300 Students to Graduate from SDSU on Friday

Around 9,300 students will graduate from San Diego State University beginning today, with ceremonies scheduled throughout the weekend at Viejas Arena.

The ceremonies will begin at 9 a.m. with the College of Health and Human Services. Robert Price, whose family began the Price Club and Price Charitable Trust, will receive an honorary degree -- but Price will not be there.

Price was chosen because of his family's philanthropic support of SDSU, university officials said.

In 2000, SDSU and the Price Charitable Trust began a research and mentorship program that connected university faculty and students with City Heights schools, and provided inner city families with "improved learning outcomes, social services and health care," according to SDSU.

Through the program, students who graduate from Hoover High School and meet certain benchmarks receive guaranteed admission to SDSU.

In 2003, Price's father, Sol, who died in 2009 at age 93, received an honorary degree from SDSU. Once Robert Price receives his, it will mark the first time a father and son have both received honorary degrees from the local university.

The College of Sciences will follow at 1 p.m., and the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts at 5:30 p.m.

Thomas McElroy, the co-founder of Volcom -- a clothing and accessories outlet -- is scheduled to speak at the latter event, and Patricia Roscoe, an architect and international tourism advocate, will receive an honorary degree.

Saturday's ceremonies include the College of Business Administration at 8 a.m., College of Arts and Letters at 1 p.m., and College of Engineering at 5 p.m.

The engineering school speaker will be Douglas Barnhart, whose firm builds schools and other major buildings.

Commencement will conclude at 9 a.m. Sunday with the College of Education and the Division of Undergraduate Studies.

Attendees are asked to use the trolley or other public transportation, if possible.

Cal State San Marcos was also scheduled to begin commencement ceremonies today, but because of a wildfire that rampaged across the hills above campus, graduation was postponed to May 24-25.

—City News Service