Commencement will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium

UNC Asheville will hold its December Commencement Ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, located in the Asheville Civic Center. Some 225 students are candidates for bachelor's and Master of Liberal Arts degrees. A reception for graduates and their families will be held in the Civic Center lobby immediately following the ceremony. No tickets are required. The event is free and open to the public.

The commencement address will be given by Sarah Judson, UNC Asheville Associate Professor of History and winner of the University's 2008 Alumni Distinguished Faculty Award. Judson, who joined the faculty in 1997, has established an outstanding reputation as a professor who cares deeply about her students. Students note that she gives generously of her time out of class and credit her mentorship with guiding their careers. Judson holds a doctorate from New York University and focuses her research on 19th and 20th century U.S. history, American women and African Americans.

Special event and weekend parking rates will be in effect at all City of Asheville parking garages during Commencement. Fees range from $7 at the Civic Center Garage on Haywood St. to $1 at the Rankin Avenue Garage, located one block from the Civic Center. All City garages accept cash only. In addition, on-street, metered parking is also plentiful around the Civic Center. Most meters cost $1 per hour, and accept nickels, dimes and quarters.

In case of extremely severe winter weather, the ceremony will be canceled; information concerning cancellation will be posted on UNC Asheville's homepage at www.unca.edu and on the University's Snowline at 828/259-3050.

For more information about UNC Asheville's December Commencement Ceremony, call the Provost's Office at 828/251-6470.