Findlay, Ohio, April 26, 2002 – The University of Findlay will confer 749 graduate and undergraduate degrees during spring commencement exercises Saturday, May 4, at 2 p.m. in the Malcolm Athletic Center, Koehler Fitness and Recreation Complex.

A total of 244 graduate degrees will be awarded. These include 113 master of business administration degrees, 66 master of arts in education degrees, 23 master of science in environmental, safety and health management degrees, 17 master of TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) and bilingual education degrees, 15 master of occupational therapy degrees and 10 master of physical therapy degrees.

A total of 505 undergraduate degrees will be conferred, including 321 bachelor of science degrees, 90 bachelor of arts degrees, 28 bachelor of science in business management degrees, eight bachelor of science in environmental management degrees and 58 associate of arts degrees.

Also at commencement exercises, Patrick W. Rooney will be awarded with an honorary doctor of corporate management degree. He retired as chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees in May 2001, a post he had held since 1994. He has been a member of the board since 1990 and continues to serve in this capacity. During his term of leadership, the University launched and completed Findlay’s most successful capital campaign, raising more than $36 million.

A 1958 graduate of then Findlay College, Rooney served as the co-chair of the Horizons Fund capital campaign in 1986-89 and on the Alumni Board of Governors in 1976-77. He was named a Distinguished Associate in 1987 for his leadership and consistent support, both volunteer and financial, and was selected as a Distinguished Alumnus in 1993 for his lifetime achievements and service to the institution. In 1994, he was inducted into the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges’ Hall of Excellence for outstanding alumni of Ohio private colleges.

Rooney began his career with Cooper Tire & Rubber Company as a sales trainee in 1956 and became a territory sales representative in 1958. Moving up the ranks, he was elected vice president of Cooper brand in 1969. In 1987, he was elected vice president of marketing for Cooper’s tire operations and was elected president of tire operations and a director of Cooper Tire & Rubber Company in 1990. In 1991, he was named president and chief operating officer of the company. Rooney became chairman of the board and chief executive officer in 1994 and retired from the company in 2000.

Rooney has served on the boards of the Community Improvement Corporation, The Ohio Bank and Alltrista Corporation and has held membership in Rotary International, the Findlay • Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, Findlay/Hancock County Community Development Foundation and the Findlay YMCA. He was chairman of the United Way campaign for Hancock County in 1994 and served several times as chairman of the corporate sponsorship committee of the annual Julie Cole Celebrity Golf Benefit.

He and his wife, Sondra, have four grown children and 10 grandchildren.