Ronny Turiaf Returns for Degree at 117th Commencement

Former Zags' basketball star Ronny Turiaf greets President Thayne McCulloh during the 2010 undergraduate commencement May 9. Turiaf, who plays for the Golden State Warriors of the NBA, completed his degree in sports management. Photo by Dale Goodwin.

Gonzaga University News Service

A face familiar to anyone involved with Gonzaga University the past decade added some pizazz to the University’s 117th undergraduate commencement exercises May 9 at the Spokane Arena.

Former Zags’ basketball star Ronny Turiaf returned to pick up his degree in sports management, five years after leaving Gonzaga  Turiaf, who now plays for the Golden State Warriors of the NBA, hopes to eventually work on the business side of sports. Turiaf said the degree was very important to him.

“It was the fourth quarter with two minutes left,” he told The Spokesman-Review. “I was able to win the game.”

On a somber note, Keith and Linda Rosenbaum picked up the business degree earned by their daughter Lacey Jo, who passed away March 30 of heart failure related to a dislodged blood clot, the unknown result of a Spring Break knee surgery.

Retired Maj. Gen. Dennis Hardy (keynote speaker at the May 7 ROTC Commissioning) received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the undergraduate ceremony. Rev. Charles Currie, S.J., received the DeSmet Medal, Gonzaga’s highest honor, at the Graduate Commencement May 8. The Hon. Richard Jones received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree and was keynote speaker at the Law School Commencement May 15. Jones sits on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. Spokane attorney and Gonzaga Law alumnus Patrick Sullivan (’59) received the 2010 Law Medal.

For the eighth consecutive year, Gonzaga graduated its largest class ever as a total of 2,092 undergraduate, graduate and law degrees were conferred during the commencement ceremonies.

For the first time, the Social Justice Missioning Ceremony May 7 was held to honor some 55 graduates who begin volunteer or service work before starting careers.