PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas--This fall, Prairie View A&M University will confer degrees on more than 600 candidates for graduation. Prairie View A&M 1959 graduate, Nathelyne A. Kennedy will address graduates during Prairie View A&M University’s 2009 fall commencement exercises which will be held Saturday, Dec. 19 in the William “Billy” J. Nicks Building. Kennedy is the first African-American woman to earn an engineering degree from any university in Texas and the first woman to become a P.E. - registered Professional Engineer.



The university is preparing to confer degrees from its nine colleges and schools during two commencement exercises. This fall the university is pleased to award four doctoral degrees (three in educational leadership and one in electrical engineering).



The commencement ceremony for the Marvin D. and June Samuel Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, Whitlowe R. Green College of Education and the College of Engineering will be held Saturday, Dec. 19 at 9:00 a.m.



The second commencement ceremony for the Graduate School, College of Agriculture and Human Sciences, School of Architecture, College of Juvenile Justice and Psychology and the College of Nursing will be held Saturday, Dec. 19 at 1:00 p.m. The line up begins at noon.



Media interested in covering PVAMU’s Fall 2009 commencement exercises should contact the Public Relations Office at (936) 261-2121.

Prairie View A&M University was founded in 1876 and is the second-oldest public institution of higher education in Texas. With an established reputation for producing engineers, business leaders, nurses and educators, PVAMU offers baccalaureate degrees, masters degrees and doctoral degree programs through eight colleges and schools. The university recently named its College of Engineering in honor of PVAMU alumnus Roy G. Perry and the University’s marching band, The Marching Storm, was featured as the lead band in the 2009 Rose Parade. A member of The Texas A&M University System, the university is dedicated to fulfilling its land-grant mission of achieving excellence in teaching, research and service. During the university’s 132-year history, more than 53,500 academic degrees have been awarded.

Prairie View A&M University
Sheleah D. Hughes
(936) 261-2121