CCS Celebrates 30th Anniversary UNIQUE COLLEGE BEGINS UCSB COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES

UC Santa Barbara's College of Creative Studies, unique in the University of California system, will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a weekend of activities---culminating in a graduation ceremony in Lotte Lehmann Concert Hall, Sunday, June 7, at 1 p.m.

The College of Creative Studies (CCS), the campus' smallest college, was established in the 1967-68 academic year to give talented, self-directed students an opportunity for independent study with working artists, scientists, critics, and scholars, such as R. Buckminster Fuller and New York City Ballet dancer Jacques d'Amboise. CCS alumni include Grammy award winner David Holt, "Live Nude Girls" filmmaker Julianna Lavin, and this year's alumnus speaker, Alexei Filippenko.

Filippenko, a professor of astronomy at UC Berkeley, is best known for his discovery that many galaxies, including our own, evolved from quasars and for finding an entirely new type of exploding star, an oxygen-rich nova.

"I look back fondly on my years at CCS. I taught my own class while I was there, which is a rare opportunity for undergraduates," reminisces Filippenko. "Science students there are involved in research projects quite early, providing 'small-college' opportunities within a large, research-oriented university."

Chancellor Henry T. Yang will preside and confer degrees, and CCS Provost William J. Ashby will welcome students and their guests. Musical selections composed by graduating seniors include Alex Pauley's "Attack of the Killer Enchiladas."

One of the planned anniversary events is a ceremony for the Richardson Poetry ($200 prize) and Brancart Fiction ($600 prize) awards to be held on Friday, June 5, at 7 p.m. in the MultiCultural Center Theater. CCS alumni Jeffrey Hewitt and Christine Lehner created the new writing contests in honor of their grandmothers.

Ceremonies for the College of Letters and Science, College of Engineering, and the Graduate Division will take place June 13-14.

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