May 11, 2009 — Between 30,000 and 35,000 people are expected to descend upon the University of Virginia Grounds on May 16 and 17 for graduation weekend.

J. Harvie Wilkinson III, a University of Virginia Law School graduate and appeals court judge who has been on short lists for U.S. Supreme Court vacancies, will give the commencement address at U.Va.'s 180th Final Exercises on May 17. Wilkinson will speak on the Lawn following the traditional academic procession, which begins at 10 a.m.

Dawn Staley, a U.Va. alumna who went on to be an Olympian, WNBA all-star and head women's basketball coach at Temple University and the University of South Carolina, will give the valedictory address May 16 at 11 a.m. on the Lawn.

Below are the names of several members of U.Va.'s Class of 2009. Click to read their profiles.

• Alex Boyajian

• Angela Briggs

• James Cecil

• Kimberly Diaz

• Rebecca Ellis

• Jason Franasiak

• Evelyn Hall

• Michael Horton

• Vinu Ilkakkuvan

• Scott Jones

• Karl Krause

• Chalais Massard

• Grace Ng and Vadim Elenev

• Stephanie Passman

• Lindsay Powell

• Randa Samaha

• Jesse Quinlan

• Rebecca Vallas

• Mary Beth White-Comstock and Haley Russell (mother and daughter)


U.Va.'s College at Wise

• Stephanie Ann Ring

• Andrew J. Maggard