More than 300 students are expected to graduate from Ashford University on Sunday, December 16^th, 2007. That makes this semester’s commencement ceremony the largest ever in the institution’s history.

“As our student enrollment grows exponentially, it’s exciting to witness that growth at our graduation ceremony,” said Dr. Jane McAuliffe, Ashford President, who noted that 337 students will receive their degrees from the University in December.  Of those students, 70 will receive master’s degrees.  “Once again, we will have students both on campus and online coming to Clinton to walk across the stage together to receive their diplomas, while their friends and families look on.”

• Ashford’s annual graduation ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. in the Durgin Educational Center.  A reception will follow.

• A separate "hooding ceremony" for Ashford graduates receiving their master's degrees will be held at 12:30 p.m. in the University Chapel in St. Clare Hall.

• A reception for online students and faculty will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Ashford Cafeteria.

• All of Ashford's graduation activities are open to the public and media.

To accommodate parking for the graduation events, the City of Clinton will allow parking on both sides of Springdale Drive on December 16.  There will be additional parking in Medical Associates’ parking lot, with a shuttle providing transportation to and from campus. For directions, and parking information, guests can contact the Office of Academic Affairs at 563.242.4257 ext. 1290.

Gary Dolphin, “The Voice of the Hawkeyes,” will be guest speaker during the graduation ceremony.  Dolphin, who has been involved in sports play-by-play broadcasting for 35 years, has been the Vice President of Business Development for US Bank Dubuque since 1987.

He grew up in Cascade, Iowa, attending Cascade Aquin Catholic High School. He graduated with honors from Brown Institute of Radio-Television and Engineering in Minneapolis/St. Paul and attended Loras College in Dubuque.

Dolphin has done play-by-play and worked for Wisconsin State High School basketball tournament television, National Catholic Basketball Tourney television, Northwestern University Basketball Radio Network and the Chicago Bears for 10 years as network television coordinator.

For the past 10 years he has served as the Hawkeye Radio Network play-by-play voice for football and basketball. The Hawkeye Radio Network encompasses 45 radio stations reaching 42 states; it is also available on XM Satellite radio and worldwide webcasting.

Additionally, he hosts the weekly “Coaches Football and Basketball” radio and television shows featuring Kirk Ferentz and Todd Lickliter.

Founded in 1918, Ashford University is a coeducational institution regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, with programs in education, business, accounting, criminal and social justice, computer animation and graphic design, and other areas.  The University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as a range of student activities and athletics, at its Clinton campus.  Online degree programs are available in education, organizational management, business administration, and psychology.  The University is known for its high quality yet highly affordable on-campus and online programs, with tuition fees among the lowest in the U.S. compared to other private institutions.  Its tagline is: “Higher Education Made Affordable”^SM.  For more information, please visit www.ashford.edu.