U.S. SEN. GEORGE ALLEN SPEAKS AT MAY 6 COMMENCEMENT

From: Media Relations

U.S. Sen. George Allen (R-Va.)
March 31, 2006

HARRISONBURG — U.S. Sen. George Allen, who has represented Virginia in the Senate since 2001, will speak at James Madison University's main spring commencement program Saturday, May 6, when approximately 3,364 students will graduate.


Click here to view a Web cast archive of the main ceremony.


JMU will confer about 3,025 bachelor's degrees, 330 master's degrees and nine doctoral degrees during the program, which begins at 8:30 a.m. in Bridgeforth Stadium.

Students will graduate as a group at the main ceremony and will be recognized individually at college ceremonies, which will begin at approximately 11:30 a.m. at various campus locations.

Before his election to the Senate, Allen was Virginia's governor from 1994 to 1998. From Nov. 5, 1991, to Jan. 3, 1993, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives, filling a vacancy caused by the resignation of D. French Slaughter Jr. Allen was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1983 to 1991.

Allen's Senate appointments have included the Foreign Relations Committee, Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. He currently serves as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee's Subcommittee on European Affairs.

In 2001 he was appointed chairman of the Senate High Tech Task Force. Last year he completed a two-year term as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Allen earned a bachelor's degree in history with distinction and a law degree from the University of Virginia. He and his wife, Susan, live near Mount Vernon in Fairfax County with their three children, Tyler, Forrest and Brooke.

Following Allen's address in Bridgeforth Stadium, college ceremonies will be held in the following locations:
  • College of Arts and Letters' communication areas, Hillside Field;
  • College of Arts and Letters' humanities and social sciences areas, JMU Quadrangle near Wilson Hall;
  • College of Business, inside the JMU Convocation Center;
  • College of Education, inside Godwin Hall;
  • College of Integrated Science and Technology's health sciences, psychology and social work areas, Festival Conference and Student Center lawn;
  • College of Integrated Science and Technology's communication sciences and disorders, computer science, integrated science and technology, kinesiology and recreation studies, and nursing areas, Bridgeforth Stadium;
  • College of Science and Mathematics, Wilson Hall Auditorium; and
  • College of Visual and Performing Arts, Duke Sculpture Garden between Duke Hall and the Music Building.

    Commencement guests who have difficulty walking up steps or who wish to avoid crowd congestion at the main ceremony in Bridgeforth Stadium should go to the indoor projection site closest to their graduate's college ceremony location to view the main ceremony on large-screen projection.

    Large screens will be located in Godwin Hall, Wilson Hall, the Festival Conference and Student Center Ballroom, and the JMU Convocation Center.

    For more information, check the commencement Web site at www.jmu.edu/commencement.

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