Â鶹ÒùÔº

Special recognition ceremonies will be hosted by most University of Colorado at Boulder schools and colleges in addition to the main University Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 9:30 a.m. in the Coors Events/Conference Center. Following are the events to be held by CU-Boulder schools and colleges: * Architecture and Planning -- Graduation gathering, Dec. 17, 4 p.m. in the Muenzinger Psychology Auditorium. A reception will follow in the Environmental Design building, room 134.

The business plan for Wally.com, a pre-paid Internet purchasing card for teens, swept the CU-Boulder $45,000 Business Plan Competition Dec. 8. The team from the College of Business and Administration's Business Plan Preparation course won the first-place $3,000 prize from Bank One, the Cornerstone Equities’ Seed Capital Award valued at $20,000 and the Integer Group’s Excellence in Marketing Award worth $10,000 — netting the team $33,000 in prize money.

Next fall students at the University of Colorado at Boulder will have an easily accessible, one-stop service location where many of their financial, academic and administrative questions will be answered. The university's goal to create a pilot student convenience center is on its way to becoming a reality, due to the recent selection of an associate manager for the project.

MEDIA ADVISORY WHO: Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah, Ambassador to the United States from the State of Kuwait, will present a public lecture on "US-GCC Relations: A Model of Cooperation" at CU-Boulder on Dec. 11. Al-Sabah received a doctorate in economics from Harvard University and is known for his training in development economics. This is the first time Al-Sabah has visited the CU-Boulder campus.

A ruptured steam condensate line discovered this afternoon at CU-Boulder west of the campus power plant drained treated water into a storm sewer and Boulder Creek at about Folsom Avenue but did not pose a danger to aquatic life, dogs, other animals, humans or the environment, campus officials said. The water is treated to prevent the growth of microorganisms and to preserve the pipes.

The economic growth enjoyed throughout the nation and in Colorado will slow in 2000, according to CU-Boulder economist Richard Wobbekind. However, employment growth will remain strong. Colorado will enjoy 2.9 percent job growth, roughly double the national rate. The state's high-tech industry will support the economy by continuing to create high-wage employment opportunities. Wobbekind's annual forecast will be delivered at Denver's Brown Palace Hotel on Dec. 6.

CU-Boulder business and engineering students will vie for thousands of dollars in prize money at the Bank One $45K Business Plan Competition on Wednesday, Dec. 8. The competition will be held at the University of Colorado at Boulder College of Business and Administration.

The University of Colorado at Boulder will confer 1,856 degrees on Saturday, Dec. 18, during its final commencement ceremonies of the century at the Coors Events/Conference Center. The winter commencement ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. and last approximately an hour. Guests are requested to be in their seats by 9:15 a.m. Because no tickets are required for the ceremony, early arrival is strongly suggested.

Robert Cranny has been named interim director of the Wardenburg Health Center, due to the upcoming departure of David Cooke. Cranny currently is director of the physical therapy department at the center. He will assume the position of interim director at the end of December. Cooke is leaving Wardenburg to become the senior vice president and chief financial officer at Health System Minnesota in Minneapolis. He will remain in a consulting capacity at Wardenburg through the end of February to assist in completing the 2000-2001 budget process and to aid in the transition.

The University of Colorado at Boulder enrolled a record number of students this year, spurring the growth of some minority programs. Fall 1999 student enrollment at CU-Boulder totaled 26,318 students, up from 25,125 in fall 1998. The number of diverse students increased from 3,357 in fall 1998 to 3,414 in fall '99, accounting for 13.0 percent of the total student body.