Editors: Enclosed are the names of the degree candidates from your area. This list was accurate as of Dec. 16 but is subject to final grade reports.
Local students were among the 2,227 students who received degrees from the University of Colorado at Boulder during winter commencement ceremonies on Dec. 17.
In addition, prominent Colorado businessman Bruce Benson received an honorary doctoral degree recognizing his university and public service, and longtime CU-Boulder staff member Kathleen Salzberg received the University Medal during the ceremony.
Benson received a bachelor's degree in geology from CU-Boulder in 1965 and then went into the oil business. He served three years as chair of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education and two years as chair of the Governor's Blue Ribbon Panel for Higher Education for the 21st Century.
Benson was state chairman of the 1992 Bush-Quayle campaign, Republican candidate for governor in 1994 and Colorado finance chairman for the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign. He has personally donated millions of dollars to the university and the Benson Earth Sciences Building on campus bears his name.
Salzberg was honored for her more than 30 years of leadership as managing editor of the journal Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research and for her contributions to the growth of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at CU-Boulder.
The Chancellor's Recognition Award for receiving all As in a college career was given to Ryan McGill of Greeley, who is receiving a bachelor's degree in geography.
Outstanding graduates named by the schools and colleges for the winter 2004 commencement were Nancy Aggabao of Denver, College of Music, bachelor's degree in music education; Kevin Butler of Denver, College of Engineering and Applied Science, bachelor's and master's degrees concurrently in electrical engineering; Walter Crigler of Boulder, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, bachelor's degree in media studies.
Also named as outstanding graduates were: Charles Dietrich of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Leeds School of Business, bachelor's degree in finance; Derrick Dietz of Lakewood, College of Architecture and Planning, bachelor's degree in design studies; Janelle Knox of Dolores, College of Arts and Sciences, bachelors' degrees in environmental, population and organismic biology, international affairs and Japanese.