CMC Trustee and Mayor of Dallas Tom Leppert '77 will present the keynote address at Claremont McKenna College's 61st Annual Commencement ceremonies at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 17 on Pritzlaff Field, located south of Bauer Center.
Leppert, who was elected the mayor of Dallas last June during his first-ever run for political office, is the former chairman and chief executive officer of the Dallas-based Turner Corporation, a leading general builder whose landmark buildings and key historical projects include the United Nations, the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Kennedy Library, and the Tapei 101 Tower in Tapei, Taiwan.
During his undergraduate years in Claremont, Leppert served as president of ASCMC and received his MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School in 1979. He was appointed as a White House Fellow during the Reagan administration and is a former president and CEO of Castle & Cooke Properties, Inc., and a principal at McKinsey & Co.
Vice President for Student Affairs Jeff Huang expects Leppert's address to have great impact on the Class of 2008. "Tom was resolute in his bid for the mayoral race in Dallas," Huang notes. "He's very intelligent and level-headed, but what surprises me about Tom is his modesty. I think he will bring great perspective about the dynamics between his personal, professional, and political aspirations."
Activities leading to Saturday's graduation activities include:
Friday, May 16
3:30 p.m., Baccalaureate Service for graduates and families, Bridges Auditorium, Pomona College 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Reception for graduates and their families, hosted by President Pamela Gann and the Alumni Association, Collins Dining Hall Saturday, May 17
8 a.m., Commencement rehearsal and cap and gown distribution for all graduates, Pritzlaff Field
9 a.m., R.O.T.C. Commissioning Ceremony, Pickford Auditorium, Bauer Center
2 p.m., Sixty-first Annual Commencement ceremonies, Pritzlaff Field
3:30 p.m., Reception for graduates, family, and friends, Parents Field
CMC provides wheelchair access for individuals who need that accommodation. Seating for the graduation ceremony is on a first-come, first-served basis. Seats may not be reserved but may be held if a family member remains in the tent.
For assistance or for more information, please contact the Dean of the Faculty's office, 909-621-8117.