Hispanic Convocation 'caps off' 2013 graduation ceremonies

The Spring 2013 Hispanic Convocation, always a fun and festive occasion, will conclude this year’s series of Arizona State University graduation ceremonies.

The ASU Office of Public Affairs is inviting the media to attend the spring 2013 Hispanic Convocation ceremony. The ceremony takes place at 1 p.m., May 11, at Wells Fargo Arena, 600 E. Veterans Way, Tempe.

“This convocation is especially significant because it celebrates their academic achievements in a festive, cultural environment shared with family and friends,” said Rhonda Carrillo, assistant director in the Office of Community Development.

Rudy Calderon, an Asian Languages and Global Studies major, will be honored with the 2013 Jose Ronstadt Undergraduate Award; William Knight will accept this year’s Ed Pastor Outstanding Graduate Award. Congressman Ed Pastor, who has supported Hispanic Convocation since 1984, will be on hand to personally present the award to Knight.

The Hispanic Convocation is a tradition established by Arizona State University Hispanic students more than twenty-five years ago, and celebrates the accomplishments of ASU’s Hispanic graduates. This year’s event will include approximately 330 graduates. 

ASU enrolled just over 73,000 students across its four campuses at the beginning of the fall 2012 semester. Of that total, more than 12,000 were Hispanic undergraduates and graduate students. Their academic achievements are supported by more than 1,300 Hispanic faculty and staff at the university.