About the Ceremony
The Academic Procession
Opening this ceremony is an academic procession whose roots reach back into the earliest days of the oldest colleges and universities. Representatives of each school and department within Cameron University march together, preceded by their respective organizational banners, and garbed in academic regalia that distinguishes them from their colleagues in other fields of learning. The procession manifests a collegiality of thought and action, while maintaining appropriate distinctions.
The Tradition of Academic Regalia
Like many of our other traditions, the wearing of distinctive regalia began in England. There, in the second half of the 14th Century, the statutes of certain colleges prescribed the wearing of a long gown by faculty and students. Over time, distinctive colors were adopted by each discipline to distinguish them from their colleagues.
In 1895, agreement among several American universities was reached for the establishment of a suitable code of academic dress for this nation. This code, with modifications made in 1959, remains in force. The costumes, colors, trimmings and patterns are all traditional, and interpret both the degree and field of learning.
The bachelor's gown, designed to be worn closed, has pointed sleeves. The master's gown, which may be worn open or closed, has an oblong, open sleeve that hangs down in traditional manner. The doctor's gown has bell-shaped sleeves. It may be worn open or closed.
Bachelor's and master's gowns are untrimmed. The facing and three bars across the sleeves of the doctor's gowns are generally velvet and are either black or coincide with the color of the edging of the hood. The colors you will see in the hoods and gowns represent the various fields in which the degrees were taken.
The hoods, which differ in length for the three degrees, are lined with the official colors of the university or college conferring the degree, usually with one color forming a chevron pattern over the other. Hoods are edged and bound with velvet of the color appropriate for the degree. Colors and corresponding fields of study are:
Brown: Fine Arts
Crimson: Journalism
Dark Blue: Philosophy
Golden Yellow: Science
Lemon Yellow: Library Science
Light Blue: Education
Pink: Music
Purple: Law
Sage Green: Physical Education
Scarlet: Theology
White: Arts, Letters, Humanities
Yellow/Brown: Commerce, Business, Accountancy
Mortarboards are the approved headgear. The tassel, worn on the left of the cap, may be gold if the holder has a doctor's degree.
Recognition of University Honor Societies
At the center of the life of the university are the combined efforts of students and faculty to achieve academic excellence as it is defined in their chosen fields of specialization. At Cameron, there are active chapters of sixteen national and international honor societies. Membership in these societies represents the achievement of a high standard of academic excellence. In acknowledging the accomplishments of members of these societies, we acknowledge the efforts of all our faculty and students that create the environment in which our students have discovered and achieved excellence. Cameron hosts chapters of the following honor societies:
Alpha Kappa Delta - Sociology
Alpha Phi Sigma - Criminal Justice
Beta Beta Beta - Biology
Delta Mu Delta - Business
Lambda Pi Eta - Communication
Mu Phi Epsilon - Music
Pi Kappa Delta - Forensics
Pi Kappa Lambda - Music
Pi Lambda Theta - Education
Pi Mu Epsilon - Mathematics
Pi Sigma Alpha - Political Science
Upsilon Pi Epsilon - Computing and Information Sciences
Phi Alpha Theta - History
Phi Eta Sigma - All Disciplines (Freshmen)
Phi Kappa Phi - All Disciplines (Juniors, Seniors, and Graduate Students)
Phi Sigma Iota - International Foreign Language
Phi Upsilon Omicron - Family and Consumer Sciences
Psi Chi - Psychology
Sigma Pi Sigma - Physics
Sigma Tau Delta - English
Scabbard and Blade - ROTC
We also acknowledge students who participate in other distinguished scholarship programs:
Academic Excellence
Cameron University provides this scholarship for students who score 27-29 on their ACT and whose GPA exceeds 3.0.
Academic Merit
Cameron University provides this scholarship for students who score 24-26 on their ACT and whose GPA exceeds 3.0.
Academic Scholars
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Academic Scholars Program was created and funded by the Oklahoma Legislature as an incentive for students of high academic ability to attend higher education institutions in Oklahoma. Cameron University may nominate up to five students each academic year.
Baccalaureate Scholars
This scholarship provides support to academically-promising Oklahoma students for up to eight semesters of study in a baccalaureate program at Cameron University. In order to be eligible for the scholarship, the student must have an ACT composite score of at least 30 and a class rank and GPA which are exceptional.
Career Technology Center and Transfer Scholars
These awards are given through the admissions office to students who attended regional technology centers and completed 30 hours with at least a 3.0 GPA.
Freshman Scholars
Cameron University provides this scholarship for incoming freshmen who score 22-23 on their ACT.
Laura Fields Trust Scholars
Excellence in high school academics is recognized through the Laura Fields Trust Scholarship. Each year, Cameron University recognizes the top two graduates in Comanche County?s high schools.
Louis Stokes Oklahoma Alliance Scholars
The Louis Stokes Oklahoma Alliance recognizes minority participation in science, engineering, mathematics, and technology. This is an honor organization supported by the National Science Foundation. Students must meet academic standards and conduct a research project in their junior and senior years.
McMahon Scholars
The McMahon Foundation of Lawton generously endowed awards this year to Cameron students, and we are proud to recognize these students today. They are chosen from their respective departments for their outstanding scholarship and superior achievement. This group exemplifies the level of excellence all students are encouraged to set as a goal.
McNair Scholars
The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program prepares participants for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. McNair Scholars are selected based on demonstrated scholarship and their commitment to completing programs for doctoral study. Cameron University is proud to recognize our McNair Scholars.
PLUS Scholars
Presidential Leaders and University Scholars (PLUS) students were chosen in their senior year of high school on the basis of their academic record, ACT scores, and leadership experiences. The PLUS program nurtures a lifelong commitment to volunteerism and public service. The young men and women assisting as ushers at this convocation today are PLUS Scholars.
President's Partners Scholars
The President's Partners of Cameron University offers scholarships to incoming students who maintained at least a 3.0 average in high school. A portion of these scholarships are awarded to students enrolling in a specific field of study.
Regional University Baccalaureate Scholars
These scholarships are awarded to incoming freshmen who have attained a score of 30 on the ACT or who are National Merit semifinalists.
Valedictorian & Salutatorian Scholars
Cameron University provides scholarships to any incoming student who achieved status as class valedictorian or salutatorian.
Departmental Scholars
In addition to the scholars programs listed above, each Cameron department also presents awards based on excellence in a specific discipline. Among these programs are:
1999 Fall Scholarship Drive Foundation Scholarship
Allen L. Zisman Excellence in Chemistry Scholarship
Alpha Delta Kappa Scholarship in Education
B. H. and Flora Brewer Endowed Scholarship
Barbara Hughes Education Scholarship
Beth Adcock Scholarship in Music
Beth Ann Smith Scholarship in Biology
Bowman White Scholarship
Brown Foundation Scholarship
Buck and Irene Clements Scholarship in Agriculture
Buck and Irene Clements Scholarship in Childhood Education
Byford Scholarship in Agriculture
Cameron University BancFirst Investment Portfolio Endowed Scholarship
Chemistry Alumni Endowment Scholarship
Cleo Brittain Watson Endowed Scholarship
Clothide Fullbright Crawford Scholarship in Human Ecology
CU Alumni Foundation Scholarship
David A. Himes Endowed Memorial Scholarship
Doss Owen Lynn Presidential Distinguished Scholarship
E. Hanson Scholarship in Agriculture
Edith Marie Barker Scholarship in Nursing
Emma Tomlinson Endowed Scholarship
Ewell B. Lacy Scholarship
Ferrell McGoohan Scholarship in Military Science
Floss Belland Scholarship for Women’s Golf
Floyd J. Freeman Scholarship
Frank and Katherine Melka Scholarship
Fred Heinz Family Scholarship
Fulbright-Helvey Endowed Scholarship
Future Teacher Scholarship in Education
Gerald Ruschmeyer Endowed Scholarship
Goodyear-Toyota Scholarship
Helen Carney Math Foundation Scholarship
Herbert C. King Memorial Scholarship
Ina Mae Stapp Scholarship
Jack Wolfson Scholarship in Military Science
Jamie Lynn Abbott Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Jane M. Morse Memorial Scholarhsip
Jessie Dunbar Scholarship
Jessie Mae Hines Scholarship in English
John Elmer Lillaird Endowment Scholarship
Kappa Kappa Iota Scholarship in Education
Kennedy Scholarship in Agriculture
Kevin Everett Scholarship
Kinder Scholarship in Agriculture
Lahoma B. Benke Spanish Scholarship
Lawrence Memorial Scholarship in Business
Lawton Shakespeare Club English Scholarship
Lawton Transit Mix Endowed Scholarship
Lawton/Ft. Sill Chapter of the Association of the US Army Scholarship
Leslie Powell Scholarship in Art
Local Oklahoma Bank Endowed Scholarship
Mike and Micki Krzyzewski Presidential Distinguished Scholarship
Nancy Edith Hale Endowed Scholarship
Phi Kappa Phi Foundation Scholarship
Phillip S. and Aldine Cash Scholarship in Music
Physical Science Gifts Endowment Scholarship
Presser Scholarship in Music
Reginal C. Brown Scholarship in Business
Shamen Marie Wilson Scholarship
Sondra Bonnington Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Southwest Premedical Endowment Scholarship
T. A. Phillip and Adeline Hamra Scholarship in Business
Temple W. Chronister Endowed Scholarship
Thomas C. Brown Scholarship
Vinola D. Scott Endowed Scholarship
William K. “Bill” Burch Endowed Scholarship
We salute the recipients of each of these awards of merit.
The Mace
Leading the academic procession is the Chairman of the Faculty Senate, the person elected annually by Cameron's faculty to preside over that deliberative body and represent them at ceremonial functions. The Chairman carries the mace to symbolize the authority of the faculty in academic matters and the practice of shared governance within the university.
During the Middle Ages, the wood mace clad in metal was an effective weapon in battle. As newer and more powerful arms were developed, its military significance diminished and it was transformed into a symbol of authority.
The earliest ceremonial maces were borne by bodyguards of the 12th Century English and French kings. By the end of the 16th Century, officials of English cities and towns used them widely. Today, the use of the ceremonial mace is found in the British Houses of Parliament, carried before ecclesiastical dignitaries and in university ceremonies such as this.
Cameron's mace was designed and created in 1981 by Benson Warren, a member of the Art Department faculty. It is cast in bronze and displays in bas-relief the three peaks of the Wichita Mountains from the university's official seal. The Faculty Senate Chair has carried it in the academic procession at each university function since its adoption.
Academic Banners
Honor students carrying academic banners, which graphically symbolize each academic program, will lead the faculty during the processional.
Cameron's academic banners were first constructed in 1974 as a project in Professor Wanda Shaw's Art Design class. Several new banners were added in 1980. The new banners now seen at the ceremony were designed and constructed in the Summer of 2000.
