Enough Already! Meet a UC Grad Who Will Be Marching in Both Commencement Ceremonies
Shali Zhu is earning degrees from two different UC colleges. As a result, she’ll be marching in the morning and in the afternoon.
Shali Zhu is a highly honored graduate at the University of Cincinnati – one of four graduates to receive the Presidential Leadership Medal of Excellence – the most prestigious honor for UC’s undergraduates. But as graduation day approaches on June 11, her achievements are going to lead to a workout, as Zhu marches in UC’s All-University Commencement Ceremony at 9 a.m., and again in the afternoon ceremony at 2 p.m.| Shali Zhu |
Zhu will represent the College of Business as student marshal during the morning Commencement ceremony when she celebrates earning her bachelor’s of business administration in finance. In the afternoon, she’ll be marching with UC’s McMicken College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) as she achieves her bachelor’s in mathematics. She adds that she maintained a 4.0 for both degrees.
The UC Office of the Registrar reports that 95 UC graduates are receiving more than one degree in June. Out of those 95, 13 are receiving a graduate degree at Friday’s hooding ceremony and a baccalaureate degree on Saturday. Zhu is among 20 UC graduates who are eligible to attend both the morning and afternoon Commencement ceremonies, because they’re earning more than one degree and their degree-granting colleges are scheduled for the different ceremony times.
Zhu was awarded a full Cincinnatus Scholarship to UC in 2007 and graduated valedictorian of Ballard High School in Louisville, Ky., all achievements to be proud of, but even more significant for a young woman born in China who knew little more than the word, “Hi,” in English when she first moved to the United States. Her proud family will be traveling to Cincinnati from Louisville to see her march at both ceremonies.
The graduate of the University Honors Program and Kolodzik Business Scholar will enter graduate study this fall at Oxford University, after offers of graduate school admission from, among others, Stanford University, Columbia University, Yale University, Cornell University and the London School of Economics.