Cal Poly Spring Commencement 2005: Photos

June 13, 2005

Cal Poly Spring Commencement 2005: In Photos

mountain sky photo SAN LUIS OBISPO -- More than 3,600 students graduated in two ceremonies at Cal Poly’s 2005 Spring Commencement June 11.

William H. “Bill” Swanson, chairman and chief executive officer of Raytheon, received an honorary degree and addressed graduates and a packed stadium at the morning ceremony before some 1,916 degree candidates from the colleges of Agriculture, Architecture and Environmental Design, and Engineering. Swanson received an honorary Doctor of Science degree at the ceremony, which began under light fog in Mustang Stadium but ended in sunshine.

Also at the morning ceremony, Cal Poly alumnus Richard J. O’Neill was presented with the President’s Medal of Excellence. Following the morning commencement, O'Neill was honored at a brief ceremony oneill green photo naming the Richard J. O’Neill Green, formerly known informally as the three-acre lawn in front of the Orfalea College of Business.(Left)

The weather had warmed and skies were sunny when California Secretary of State Bruce McPherson delivered the keynote remarks at the afternoon ceremony before some 1,710 degree candidates from the colleges of Education, Liberal Arts, Science and Mathematics, and the Orfalea College of Business. McPherson received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at the ceremony before an equally packed stadium crowd.

Swanson, McPherson and O'Neill are Cal Poly alumni. Swanson graduated magna cum laude with a degree in industrial engineering in 1973. McPherson, who served in the state senate and state assembly before being appointed recently as California’s secretary of state, graduated from Cal Poly with a degree in journalism in 1965. O'Neill is a College of Agriculture alumnus who studied Animal Husbandry before going on to become a major force in building the community of Mission Viejo. He has been a long-time supporter of Athletics at Cal Poly.

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The College of Engineering degree candidates and faculty at the morning commencement ceremony.
	College of Engineering Dean Peter Lee (left), Dean of Research and Graduate Programs Susan Opava (center) and College of Science and Mathematics Dean Philip Bailey (right) at the procession leading into the morning commencement ceremony.
Alum Richard O'Neill receives the President's Medal of Honor from President Baker, left.
	Secretary of State Bruce McPherson (above) is robed as he receives his honorary doctorate in Humane Letters at the afternoon ceremony. Left, Raytheon CEO Bill Swanson is robed as he receives his honorary doctorate in science at the morning ceremony (left).
Dr. Swanson addresses the crowd at the morning ceremony.
Dr. McPherson addresses the afternoon commencement crowd.
Cal Poly graduates followed tradition with plenty of creative hatwear (left, and below).
More creative hats (left) and their wearers (below).	A happy graduate.

	King Cong makes an appearance on a hat (left) while friends and relatives make their support clear (below).
This architecture grad is soon off to Holland -- thus, the windmill theme.	One grad displays creative turf management.
After the morning commencement ceremony, it's time to look for friends and relatives (right) Then say 'Cheese' for photos with them (below).