ATHENS, Ohio -- CNN news anchor and national correspondent Martin Savidge will address the more than 3,000 undergraduates expected for Ohio University's June 14 commencement ceremonies.
Savidge, who received bachelor's degrees in communications and journalism from Ohio University in 1980 and 1981, respectively, reports from the field on major breaking news stories that have included this year's war in Iraq, where he was one of CNN's embedded journalists and was among the first members of the media to accompany troops into Baghdad.
Savidge will address the 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. undergraduate commencement ceremonies in the Convocation Center. The morning ceremony will recognize bachelor and associate degree candidates in the colleges of Business, Communication, Fine Arts and Health and Human Services. The afternoon session will honor candidates in the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education and Engineering and Technology as well as those in Honors Tutorial College, University College and Regional Higher Education.
Savidge will have a number of experiences to share with students. The seasoned journalist reported from Ground Zero following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. He then spent 80 days embedded with the military in Afghanistan, having been one of only six journalists hand-selected to report on Operation Anaconda. His stories also have included the school shootings in Arkansas and Oregon, the wildfires in Florida and hurricanes Bonnie, Georges and Mitch.
He previously anchored "The World Today," "Early Edition" and the weekend editions of CNN's "Early Prime," "CNN Worldview," "Prime News" and "The World Today." Before joining CNN, he worked for WJW-TV in Cleveland as a special projects reporter and anchor for 11 years as well as for television stations in Illinois and with the Associated Press.
He has won nine local Emmy awards, six Associated Press awards, two United Press International awards and two Women in Communication awards. In October 2002, the National Journalism Education Association named Savidge its Media Person of the Year in support of scholastic journalism.
The commencement ceremony for master's and doctoral degrees is at 10 a.m. Friday, June 13, at the Convocation Center. Douglas Bolon, associate professor of health sciences and recipient of the 2002 Outstanding Graduate Faculty Member award, will address those graduates.
Robert Biscup, DO, an orthopedic surgeon and member of the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine's inaugural graduating class in 1980, will be the college's commencement speaker. That ceremony is at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 7, at Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.
For more information regarding Ohio University's commencement ceremonies, visit the Web at www.ohio.edu/commencement.
