Aviation/Aerospace Leaders Norman Knight, Zane Rowe, and William Voss to Speak at Embry-Riddle Commencement Ceremonies
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Now 100,000 Alumni Strong
Prescott, AZ, May 3, 2011
Norman Knight is the featured speaker for the Prescott, AZ campus.
When Embry-Riddle’s three campuses—Daytona Beach, Prescott, and Worldwide—hold their Commencement ceremonies in May, the University will celebrate a key milestone in its 85-year history as its number of alumni reaches the 100,000 mark.
In celebration of this milestone, Embry-Riddle Alumni Relations has established an Alumni Association Scholarship Fund so that alumni and friends can give back to benefit all future alumni.
The Alumni Association currently has 46 alumni chapters and groups, with concentrations of alumni at industry leaders such as US Airways, Sikorsky, and Boeing.
The long list of Embry-Riddle’s distinguished alumni includes six astronauts, several Air Force Thunderbirds pilots, and top executives throughout the aviation and aerospace industries.
Of the distinguished guest speakers at the University’s three May Commencement ceremonies, two, Norman Knight and Zane Rowe, are Embry-Riddle alumni.
Prescott, AZ Featured Speaker
Norman Knight, the featured speaker for the 261-strong graduating class at the Prescott, AZ campus, has worked at NASA Johnson Space Center for over 20 years, currently as deputy chief of the Flight Director Office. In that role he is responsible for the integration, planning, execution, and direction of human spaceflight operations for the space shuttle, International Space Station, and future exploration programs. Knight got his foot in the door at JSC while earning a BS in aeronautical engineering from Embry-Riddle—at his own initiative he became the first Embry-Riddle student to co-op at JSC. Upon graduation he began working full-time at JSC as a space shuttle mechanical systems flight controller and then as a manager over shuttle flight controllers. Later in his career, he received the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal for his work as a lead ascent/entry flight director and was the first flight director to be certified in all console positions in the Flight Director Office for both shuttle and ISS operations. More information can be found at the Prescott Graduation Site.
Commencement Details
The following events will be held on Embry-Riddle’s Prescott campus at 3700 Willow Creek Road, Prescott, Ariz., unless noted otherwise.
Friday, May 6
Commencement Rehearsal
9:30 a.m., Activity Center
Commencement Luncheon & Awards Ceremony
11:30 a.m., Activity Center
Followed by official Alumni Welcome.
Air Force Commissioning
2 p.m., Davis Learning Center
McNair Scholars Reception
3 p.m., Spruance House
Army Commissioning Ceremony
5 p.m., Davis Learning Center
Saturday, May 7
Commencement Ceremony
10 a.m., Lower Athletic Field
Followed by a reception in the Activity Center
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world's largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, is a nonprofit, independent institution offering more than 40 baccalaureate, master's and Ph.D. degree programs in its colleges of Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business and Engineering. Embry-Riddle educates students at residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., and through the Worldwide Campus with more than 150 locations in the United States, Europe, Asia, Canada and the Middle East. The university is a major research center, seeking solutions to real-world problems in partnership with the aerospace industry, other universities and government agencies. For more information, visit http://www.embryriddle.edu, follow us on Twitter (@EmbryRiddle) and facebook.com/EmbryRiddleUniversity, and find expert videos at YouTube.com/EmbryRiddleUniv.
