Attention will be focused on two special groups of students receiving master’s degrees when Western Carolina University holds summer commencement exercises at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9.

One group includes 22 Jamaican educators who will receive master’s degrees in educational supervision during the ceremony at the Ramsey Regional Activity Center. The 22, all of whom work in Jamaica as teachers or school administrators, are the first residents of their country to receive graduate degrees through the 32-year-old WCU-Jamaica Program.

On hand to witness the event as a special guest of Western Chancellor John W. Bardo will be Burchell Whiteman, Jamaica’s minister of education, youth and culture.

Since its creation in 1970, the WCU-Jamaica program has allowed more than 2,000 Jamaicans to upgrade their teaching skills by earning bachelor’s degrees from Western. The group receiving their degrees Aug. 9 began work toward that goal in January 2001, taking classes in Jamaica and finishing their academic work in a residency program in Cullowhee this summer. Eighteen of the 22 students had already earned bachelor’s degrees through the WCU-Jamaica program.

Thirty-five more Jamaican educators will receive bachelor’s degrees at the ceremony.

Another historic “first” will take place at commencement when 23 students become the first graduates of Western’s master of science in nursing degree program.

Western Carolina was authorized by The University of North Carolina system Board of Governors in April 1998 to begin offering the university’s first graduate nursing degree, the master of science in nursing in the nurse practitioner track. The students began work in the program in fall of 1999.

Chancellor John W. Bardo will preside over commencement and deliver the charge to the graduates. Richard J. Collings, vice chancellor for academic affairs, will preside over the presentation of degrees.

The featured speaker will be Kathy M.C. Ivey, WCU associate professor of mathematics, who was recognized as one of The University of North Carolina system’s premier teachers earlier this year when she was named one of 16 recipients of the UNC Board of Governors Awards for Excellence in Teaching.

Receptions for graduates and their families and friends will be held in the Ramsey Center following commencement. Receptions for undergraduate students (recipients of bachelor’s degrees) will be held on the Ramsey Center concourse in a designated area for each college, while a reception for graduate students (master’s and doctoral degrees) will be held in the Ramsey auxiliary gymnasium.