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Rep. John Lewis of Georgia told students graduating from Portland State University today, "The world is waiting for talented men and women to lead it to a better place."

Lewis, a celebrated leader in the nation's civil rights movement, addressed the 2,000 Portland State University graduates attending PSU's annual commencement ceremony this afternoon in the Rose Garden Arena. Approximately 4,300 students graduated this year, the largest number ever from Portland State. In his address, Lewis urged each of the graduates to enjoy the day and their accomplishments, but tomorrow, "Roll up your sleeves...now is your time to make your contribution to humanity. You have a mandate from the Spirit of History to follow in the footsteps of those brave and courageous men and women who fought to make a difference."

PSU President Daniel O. Bernstine challenged graduates to use "the knowledge you possess to make a difference-to yourself, to your family, to your communities...[y]ou embraced the PSU motto 'Let Knowledge Serve the City'...and now you fulfill that mission through civic engagement."

Additional addresses were made by PSU Provost Mary Kathryn Tetreault; Tim Nesbit, chief executive officer of the Oregon AFL-CIO and member of the Oregon State Board of Higher Education; Gerry Craig, president of the PSU Alumni Association; and PSU students Melissa Earll (B.S., Business) and Craig Riley (B.S., Biochemistry).

W.T. "Bill" Lemman, a member of the Vanport Extension Center's entering class of 1946, Harold and Arlene Schnitzer, and Rep. Lewis were awarded honorary Doctor of Human Letters. Portland State University faculty members David Johnson, Jian Wang, and Erik Bodegom were honored as this year's recipients of the University's top annual awards for faculty excellence.

For images of this year's commencement, visit online:www.pdx.edu/commencement/.

Details About the 2004 PSU Graduating Class
* The 2004 graduating class of 4,300 students includes 2,800 undergraduates and 1,500 graduate students;
* The 2004 class represents 46 states in America, plus American Samoa and Guam, 54 countries, and 140 different cities and towns in Oregon;
* This year's youngest graduate is Jameson Chan, 19, who is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts and Letters. The oldest graduate is Cecille Beyl, 69, who will receive a Master of Arts in French;
* The top five majors this year are: Social Science, Psychology, Arts and Letters, Business Administration: Marketing, and Speech Communication.

Portland State University, Oregon's only urban university, is the largest and most diverse in the state system. The University's position in Oregon's economic and cultural center allows for deep community engagement and the creation of partnerships with hundreds of organizations throughout the region - partnerships that give PSU students valuable learning opportunities as they solve real-world problems of business and community. Portland State offers more than 100 undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees, as well as graduate certificates and continuing education programs. PSU serves more students and confers more master's degrees annually than any other Oregon university.

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Release Number: 04-075