O’Grady will speak May 8 at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania. The F-16 fighter pilot was patrolling the skies over Bosnia in June 1995 when his jet exploded around him after being struck by a surface-to-air missile. He was able to safely parachute to the ground, but then had to utilize all of his survival skills to evade capture for nearly a week before being rescued by a group of Marine commandos. He later wrote two books about his experience, the best-seller Return with Honor, and a children’s version titled Basher 5-2.

Mansfield’s graduation ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at Karl Van Norman Field.

Anderson, whose column Washington Merry Go Round appears in more than 800 daily newspapers, was among the first to report on such major news stories as the Savings and Loan scandal, the Iran/Contra arms-for-hostages deal and the danger of Saddam Hussein. He will speak May 15 at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania.

The commencement program will begin at 10:30 a.m. in Hubert Jack Stadium.

Kennedy Cuomo, also a noted human rights activist, will speak May 15 at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The program will begin at 11 a.m. in Miller Stadium.

Other commencement speakers who have been scheduled to appear on State System campuses this Spring are:

· U.S. Rep. Tim Holden of the Sixth Congressional District, which comprises Schuylkill, Berks and parts of Northumberland and Montgomery counties. Holden will speak May 15 at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. The program will begin at 2 p.m. on the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds.

·U.S. Rep. Frank Mascara of the 20^th Congressional District, covering Greene, Washington, and parts of Fayette, Westmoreland and Allegheny counties. Mascara will speak May 8 at California University of Pennsylvania, his alma mater. The congressman will receive an honorary degree during ceremonies scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. in Adamson Stadium.

·Cheyney University of Pennsylvania will hold its graduation ceremonies beginning at 11 a.m. May 15 on The Quadrangle. A speaker has not yet been confirmed.

·Dr. William Julius Wilson from the Harvard University Kennedy School of

Government. Wilson will speak May 15 at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. He also will receive an honorary degree during the program, which will begin at 2 p.m. in Tippin Gymnasium.

·Lt. Gov. Schweiker will speak May 15 at Millersville University of Pennsylvania. The program will begin at 10 a.m. in Biemesderfer Stadium. The following week, on May 22, Schweiker will speak at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, with ceremonies scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. in Koehler Fieldhouse.

·Dr. Yvonne S. Thornton, physician, researcher, professor and author of the Pulitzer Prize nominated The Ditchdigger’s Daughters. Thornton, who will speak May 15 at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, is director of the Perinatal Diagnostic Testing Center at Morristown Memorial Hospital in New Jersey. She also will receive an honorary degree during ceremonies scheduled to start at 1 p.m. in McComb Fieldhouse.

· Dr. Norman Sigmond, professor of accounting and general business at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. Sigmond will speak May 22 at Kutztown. The program will be held at 10 a.m. in University Fieldhouse.

· Edwin K. Zechman Jr., president and chief executive officer of the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Zechman will speak May 8 at his alma mater, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. He earned a bachelor of science degree from Shippensburg in 1970 and a master’s of education degree from the university in 1972. U.S. Rep. William Goodling, R-York, will receive an honorary degree during ceremonies scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. in Seth Grove Stadium.

· George L. Miles, president and chief executive officer of WQED in Pittsburgh. Miles will speak May 15 at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. The program will begin at 11 a.m. in N. Kerr Thompson Stadium.

· Pat Croce, president of the National Basketball Association’s Philadelphia 76ers. Croce will speak May 9 at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Honorary degrees will be presented to Croce, West Chester Mayor Clifford DeBaptiste and Marian Washington during the commencement ceremonies, which will begin at 10 a.m. in Farrell Stadium.

The State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth, offering more than 215 undergraduate and more than 100 graduate degree programs. Nearly 350,000 System alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.

The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The System also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Kittanning, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and the University Center for Southwest Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh.