UGA SCHOOL OF LAW GRADUATION TO BE HELD MAY 15

Thursday, April 22, 1999 WRITER: Kathy R. Pharr, (706) 542-5172, pharr@jd.lawsch.uga.edu CONTACT: Marc Galvin, (706) 542-0335, magalvin@arches.uga.edu UGA SCHOOL OF LAW GRADUATION TO BE HELD MAY 15 ATHENS, Ga. -- Former Georgia Governor Zell Miller will deliver the address at the University of Georgia School of Law\u27s commencement exercises on Saturday, May 15. Ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. in front of the law school on North Campus or, in the case of rain, in Stegeman Coliseum. As two-term governor of Georgia, Miller received national acclaim for his work in education and economic development. The Washington Post in 1998 called him the most popular governor in America, and Governing Magazine named him Governor of the Year in 1998. Education Weekly opined, . . .if there were a book about education governors, Miller might just be the main character. Miller won support for a state lottery, then directed the proceeds to two groundbreaking initiatives - the nation\u27s only publicly financed pre-kindergarten program and the HOPE scholarship program. Miller earned his baccalaureate and master\u27s degrees in history from the University of Georgia and taught history and political science at Young Harris College. He served two terms in the state senate and was lieutenant governor for a record 16 years. In 1990, he was elected as Georgia\u27s 79th governor. This fall, he will return to his alma mater as a Distinguished Professor of Higher Education and the first holder of UGA\u27s Philip H. Alston Jr. Chair. The University of Georgia School of Law will confer Juris Doctor degrees upon 222 students who have successfully completed three years of legal study. Twenty-seven Master of Laws students, who have finished a one-year course of graduate legal studies, will be recognized. Selected faculty and student awards will also be presented. Charlie Peeler and Julia Hill, president and vice president of the 1999 graduating class, will speak on behalf of the students. Robert Goldsmith, president of the Law School Alumni Association, will welcome graduates into membership of the organization. Other speakers include: UGA Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Karen Holbrook, School of Law Dean David Shipley, and Associate Deans Paul Kurtz and Gabriel Wilner. Music will be provided by The Athens Brass. The Athens-Clarke County sheriff will lead the graduation procession, as has been the tradition since the early 1800s