There was Matt Lauer presenting host Jay Leno with an official Ohio University hat on NBC-TV's "Tonight Show" on May 16 and discussing his up-coming graduation from Ohio University. And there was Lauer talking about OU in USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, and in newspapers across the country.

Eighteen years after leaving Ohio University four hours short of his degree to accept a job offer, Lauer, co-host of NBC's "Today" show each weekday morning, returned to Ohio University to deliver the morning commencement address June 14 in the Convocation Center and to collect his undergraduate degree. Finally.

Lauer completed a written report on his work experience to satisfy his degree requirements and receive his B.S. in telecommunications. Lauer left the Athens campus in June 1979 for a job at WOWK-TV in Huntington, W.Va., one class short of graduation and never returned.

USA Today featured Lauer's unusual path to the podium in its "Inside TV" column May 7. TV Guide detailed Lauer's graduation saga in a profile in its April 5 issue, and Entertainment Weekly's spin on Lauer's graduation included a story with the subhead "Alma Matt-ers" and a quote from Lauer. Entertainment Weekly has a circulation of 1.2 million, USA Today is at 1.6 million circulation, and TV Guide numbers 14.4 million.

"Yes, I'll be a member of the class of 1997," Lauer told Entertainment Weekly, "which is really going to help me lie about my age later on."

* See related story on Ohio University commencement.

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