From left to right, Luis Hernandez, core desk coordinator for surgery at University of Miami Hospital; M. Brian Blake, vice provost for academic affairs and dean of the Graduate School; and John Hargrove, senior software engineer at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, threw out ceremonial first pitches on Saturday. Joining the three is mascot Billy the Marlin.

Filled with all the excitement of a kid on Christmas Day, 6-year-old Joel stood in the middle of the ’Cane Zone in front of Marlins Park on April 27 and tugged at the shirt of his grandmother, Maria Elena Garcia, trying to direct her attention to a girl who was having cat whiskers painted on her face.

Face painting was in vogue on this day. About 30 children waited to get colorful artwork—from the University of Miami’s green and orange split U logo to clown faces—applied to their cheeks and foreheads, and Joel wanted to be one of them. Read the full story

Employees and students from across the University donned running shoes and shorts on April 25 and took to the streets of downtown Miami for the Mercedes-Benz Corporate Run, an event popularly known as Miami’s largest office party.

About 850 members of the University community participated in the event, many of them as team members from different UM departments, divisions, and units. Partners in Excellence—co-captained by Melissa Cabezas (Human Resources), David Siqueiros (Facilities Administration), and Alina Sanchez-Garcia (Medical Human Resources)—won the Department of Wellness and Recreation’s President’s Cup Challenge for having the largest team (83 members).

Team UM award winners for best finishing times included:
29 and under: Christian Cruz (19:27), Jenni Vanos (20:00)
30-39 years: Markus Wagner (21:07), Maricarmen Saleta (22:32)
40-49 years: Antoni Barrientos (21:02), Sharon Andrade-Bucknor (28:19)
50 and over: Wayne Balkan (25:56), Lesley Klein (28:22)

In a show of solidarity and support for environmental issues, University of Miami students, faculty, and staff joined hands and formed a circle around Lake Osceola on April 22. The seventh annual Hug the Lake event, organized by the student organization Random Acts of Kindness, kicked off Earth Week on the UM campus. Hosted by the Student Government Energy and Conservation Organization, Earth Week included a series of events and giveaways on The Rock and around campus—including the ReUse Table for donated books, clothes, electronic goods, and other items; and Recycling Fairies, who patrolled campus and gave away free T-shirts to anyone they spotted making an effort to recycle.

More than 3,000 newly minted graduates will receive degrees at the University of Miami’s spring commencement exercises, May 9-11, at BankUnited Center. During the ceremonies, each graduate will march across the stage and be congratulated by President Donna E. Shalala and their school’s respective dean.

Prior to that, students will receive advice from distinguished luminaries, some of whom will be honored with honorary degrees. Read the full story

The Spring 2013 graduate and undergraduate degree ceremonies will be held at the BankUnited Center on the following dates:

GRADUATE DEGREE CEREMONY
Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 4 p.m.
All schools and colleges, all graduate degrees (except School of Law and Miller School of Medicine M.D. degrees)

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE CEREMONIES
Friday, May 10, 2013 at 8:30 a.m.
School of Business Administration
College of Engineering

Friday, May 10, 2013 at 12:30 p.m.
School of Architecture
School of Communication
School of Education and Human Development
Frost School of Music
School of Nursing and Health Studies

Friday, May 10, 2013 at 5 p.m.
College of Arts and Sciences
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (undergraduate degrees)

LAW AND MEDICAL DEGREE CEREMONIES
Saturday, May 11, 2013
School of Law ceremony at 10 a.m.
Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine ceremony at 5 p.m.

Doctoral advisors participating in the Thursday, May 9 graduate commencement ceremony need to arrive at the BankUnited Center Fieldhouse one hour prior to the start of the ceremony. Doctoral advisors and general faculty are part of the academic procession, which begins 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the ceremony. For more information, call 305-284-1824.

Regalia distribution (excluding Miller School of Medicine and School of Law) will be held on the following dates at the Toppel Career Center:

Tuesday, May 7, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday, May 8, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday, May 9, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information on regalia, call 305-284-5451 or email [email protected]. For more information on commencement, including event locations and times, visit www.miami.edu/commencement.