Cornell will celebrate its 129th Commencement on Sunday, May 25. The program will be held in Schoellkopf Stadium from 11 a.m. to noon, with the procession beginning on the Arts Quad at 9:30 a.m.

Following Cornell tradition, the commencement speaker will be the university's president, Hunter Rawlings. Television personality Bertice Berry will be guest speaker at Senior Convocation on Saturday, May 24, in a program for graduating seniors and their guests beginning at noon in Barton Hall.

Berry, who holds a Ph.D. in sociology from Kent State University, has hosted a nationally syndicated television talk show, "The Bertice Berry Show," on the Fox television network. She has made hundreds of appearances on college campuses as a lecturer and comedian, presenting lectures mixing inspirational and motivational advice with humor while addressing serious subjects such as racism and sexism.

In addition, Berry has had numerous television appearances on programs that include the "Oprah Winfrey Show," CNN's "Sonya Live," "Cross Fire," Black Entertainment Television, the Lou Rawls Telethon and the Children's Miracle Network Telethon.

Berry has published articles describing what she calls her most rewarding role, that of caregiver for a niece and two nephews, whom she adopted when their mother, her sister, could no longer function as a parent because of drug addiction.

Berry earned her undergraduate degree from Jacksonville University in Florida, where she was awarded the President's Cup for leadership.