Edgewood College Confers First Doctoral Degrees
Burmaster Addresses Largest Winter Commencement

Madison, Wis. (December 19, 2004) - Edgewood College granted its first-ever doctoral degrees at its largest winter commencement on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2004. A total of 144 degree candidates were expected to participate.

Twelve candidates received Edgewood College’s first doctoral degree, the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership. The graduate speaker, Heather Terrill ‘89, M.S. ’96, Ed.D. ’04, had previously earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the college and was now receiving the college’s new doctoral degree in Educational Leadership. The undergraduate speaker was Paul Prindle ’04, B.S., Art History.

Edgewood College conferred an honorary doctorate on Elizabeth “Libby” Burmaster, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. In her address to the graduates, Burmaster said, “Today Edgewood College grants doctoral degrees for the first time to 12 students in Educational Leadership. As these 12 education leaders walk across this stage, Edgewood takes a major step forward in educating students to the highest degree. Now more than ever, we must have quality education in all our schools. Wisconsin’s schools need the energy, drive, and talent of the teacher-educators and administrators in this graduating class. These graduates are carrying forward the tradition that has made Edgewood a key part of our state’s heritage of quality education.”

This commencement was also the first at which Edgewood College granted Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degrees. Seven students participated from this accelerated degree program, designed for professionals who want to further their education and careers.

This was also the first Edgewood College commencement to be presided over by President Daniel J. Carey, Ph.D., who took charge of the college in August 2004.

The commencement ceremony took place at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2004, in Exhibition Hall A at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis.

Edgewood College expected 144 students to participate in the commencement, including 95 undergraduates, 37 master’s students, and 12 doctoral candidates.

Edgewood College degrees conferred, Dec. 19, 2004

• Total of 144 degrees: 33% more than the 108 degrees in winter 2003.
  95 undergraduate: 83 Bachelor of Science (B.S.), 4 Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), 1 Associate of Arts (A.A.), 7 Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.).

• 37 master’s: 22 Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), 10 Master of Arts (M.A.) in Education, 4 Master of Science (M.S.) in Nursing, 1 Master of Arts (M.A.) in Religious Studies.

• 12 doctoral: 12 Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership.

Edgewood College commencement schedule, Dec. 19, 2004

• 10:00 a.m., liturgy, St. Joseph Chapel, Edgewood College.

• 1:15 p.m., commencement line-up, Exhibition Hall A at the Alliant Energy Center.

• 2:00 p.m., commencement ceremony, Exhibition Hall A at the Alliant Energy Center.

• A reception sponsored by the alumni association following the ceremony.

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About Edgewood College

Edgewood College is Madison’s only independent liberal arts college, a Catholic school with 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students. It offers more than 40 academic and professional programs, including master’s degrees in business, education, nursing, and other fields, and a doctoral program in education leadership. For more information about Edgewood College, visit www.edgewood.edu or call 800-444-4861.

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