Some 1,000 West Virginia University students are completing their degrees midyear with many participating in Sundays (Dec. 11) December Convocation ceremony at the WVU Coliseum.

Gates open at noon, and the ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m.

MSNBC .com columnist Jeannette Walls is set to deliver an inspirational message to graduates, their families and guests. Walls penned the best sellerThe Glass Castle,the story of how she overcame poverty and other hardships and went on to college and a successful career.

Meanwhile, the University mace has been passed to Mary Strife, director of the Evansdale Library and the new University grand marshal. She will lead the procession during Sundays ceremonies.

Strife succeeds Jan Yeager, who retired last year after 38 years of service to the Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences.

The primary duty of the grand marshal, Strife explained, is to plan the efficient and timely movement of all participantsfrom University officers and platform party members to deans, faculty and graduatesat selected convocations and commencement.

There are as many as 10 marshals and floor assistants who assist with this process, and the grand marshal plans their duties. Strife works closely with Institutional Advancement, the Department of Public Safety and Facilities Management.

Additionally, the grand marshal has the honor of carrying the mace during the procession. The tradition of the mace can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when it was used as a weapon of war. In a university ceremony, the staff is used to signify order and represents a universitys power to grant degrees.

I feel honored to be selected for University grand marshal,Strife said.I have worked with Jan Yeager as a floor assistant and substitute marshal over the past eight years. Jan has provided an excellent model for me to follow, and I appreciate her high level of organization.

According to Russ Dean, senior associate provost, the Provosts Office selects a person who has played a faculty leadership role or who has recently received an outstanding faculty award in teaching or research to be the University grand marshal.

In Marys case, she has served as faculty secretary for the Faculty Senate for a number of years and has done an excellent job,he said.

I am grateful for the support I have received from Frances OBrien, dean of libraries,Strife said.I look forward to continuing the well-established practices and traditions associated with University commencement and convocations.

Originally from Croghan, N.Y., Strife came to WVU in 1995 as head and coordinator of the physical sciences and mathematics libraries. She has served as director of the Evansdale Library since 2002.