VCU’s fall commencement set for Saturday

By Mike Porter

Virginia Commonwealth University will hold its fall commencement activities on Saturday, conferring degrees to its August and December graduates.

The commencement ceremony starts at 10 a.m. at the Stuart C. Siegel Center, 1200 W. Broad St. Doors open at 8:45 a.m. Tonya S. Mallory, a VCU alumna and co-founder, president and CEO of Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc., a health management company, will be the featured commencement speaker.

Mallory was named Ernst & Young’s “National Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2012. Earlier this month, she was named “2013 Virginia Business Person of the Year.”

Mallory earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry in 1987 and a master’s degree in forensic science in 1989. Her company was developed in VCU’s technology incubator.

Media credentials are required for access to the floor of the Siegel Center. Credentials can be obtained during business hours starting today at the offices of University Public Affairs at Founders Hall, 827 W. Franklin St., or on the day of the event at the Siegel Center’s west entrance. Media parking is available in the UU lot at 1200 W. Broad St. or in the NN lot at 500 N. Harrison St.

Students will receive professional, graduate and undergraduate degrees on Saturday. About 1,600 students are expected to participate in commencement ceremonies. There are nearly 2,700 total graduates for August and December.

Join the VCU December Commencement conversation on Twitter by following @VCUand using the #VCU2013 hashtag when tweeting about commencement.

Share your commencement pictures and VCU memories on Instagram, Tumblr, TwitterandFacebookusing the #VCU2013 hashtag and be included in a special VCU December Commencement Storify.

Watch Saturday’s ceremony live online at www.vcu.edu, starting at 10 a.m.