UM Celebrates Spring Commencement and New Grizzly Gate Sign
Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - As parents and visitors come to the University of Montana campus on Saturday to see and celebrate 1,800 graduates receive their diplomas, they’ll be welcomed coming over the Madison Street Bridge by the new Grizzly Gate sign.
I spoke with UM Director of Strategic Communications Dave Kuntz this week as the campus is preparing to celebrate two commencement ceremonies on Saturday.
UM Will Hold Two Commencement Ceremonies this Saturday
“Saturday on May 10 will be the University of Montana’s spring commencement, which is our biggest commencement event of the year, about 1,800 Grizzlies receiving their diplomas, everyone from PhD candidates who are getting their doctorate degrees to our two year and four year degree students that make up the vast majority of our campus population,” began Kuntz.
Kuntz said in addition to the pomp accompanying the ceremonies, there will also be two honorary doctorate presentations.
Two Honorary Doctorates will be Bestowed during Saturday's Commencement
“We are going to bestow two honorary doctorates this spring to University alumni who have contributed great things to society,” he said. “At the morning ceremony, it'll be Steve Rinella, who's the founder and CEO of Meat Eater, and then in the afternoon ceremony, we'll be providing an honorary doctorate to Eric Sprunk, University of Montana alum who spent about 25 years as the COO of Nike.”
There will be two commencement ceremonies at 9:00 a.m. and at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.
As visitors come across the Madison Street Bridge, Kuntz said, they will get their first glimpse of the new Grizzly Gate.
Visitors Will See the New Grizzly Gate Sign on the Madison Street Bridge
“We have what we're calling the new Grizzly Gate,” he said. “It is a new statue that's very sizable, located at the Jeanette Rankin Park there on the south side of the Madison Street Bridge, right at the entrance to the campus. This is part of a multi-year effort the university has undertaken to better provide wayfinding and to celebrate our university.”
Kuntz provided more details about the new welcoming signage.
“This sign is really something that we've put some dollars into to make sure that as prospective students, visitors, and Game-Day goers cross that Madison Street Bridge, they know when they get to the south side of that bridge that they're in Griz Country and at the University of Montana. So we're grateful to be able to open up that statue this week and just in time for our commencement.”
The 13-foot wide and 2-foot thick sign will be lit up at night and will also include a path that is Americans with Disabilities Act compliant. The name of the sign was chosen through online voting.