Summer Insider 2019 final

Commencement means a beginning, one where the University
of Illinois welcomes newly minted degree holders as alumni
of one of the world’s best higher education institutions.
For the graduates, commencement also represents the
completion of hundreds of hours of work: difficult tests,
lengthy research papers, and endless nights at the library.
Commencement is also the culmination of long hours, high
pressure, and heightened expectations for another group on
campus: the staff of F&S. When thousands descend upon the
Urbana campus for Commencement Weekend, everything—
from grounds to facilities and from restrooms to stairways—
needs to shine.
Paul Jensen, Public Functions supervisor, and his staff help
execute the premier multiday event of the academic year.
As the name implies, Public Functions helps set up and put
on events across campus all year. They supply necessities like
American and State of Illinois flags, podiums, barricades,
plenty of plywood, tables, chairs, banners, and other signage.
“The staff of Public Functions works hard to make every
commencement event a success,” Jensen said. “They’re
a talented group of people, and they always deliver
great results.”
Superintendent of Grounds Ryan Welch, oversees the landscape
management of 930 acres
of outdoor space on campus, notably
including trees and shrubs,
flowers, and lawn areas like the
Main Quad.
F&S workers installed new
pavers in front of the Alice
Campbell Alumni Center.
“Commencement is one of the
campus’s biggest days of the year,
and the Grounds department
looks forward to preparing for
the event,” said Welch. “We strive
to make the university’s outdoor
Public Functions
workers set up
chairs in Huff Hall.
features look as beautiful as possible by planting flowers,
mulching beds, and keeping the lawns well-manicured.”
Building service workers clean the floors, walls, doors,
doorknobs, bathrooms, windows, and stairs, and they take
care of facility entrances and interior spaces.
Superintendent of Building Services Randy Kornegay said,
“We’ll do a walk-through of buildings in mid-April to make
sure things are as they should be, and then we will keep it
looking great.”
At various ceremonies, the electricians make sure all audio/
visual infrastructure is in place and operational for the
weekend. Much of the work takes place at Huff Hall, where
staff hang projectors from the ceiling and ensure the public
address system allows the audience to hear the proceedings.
F&S Executive Director Mohamed Attalla, who is in his first
year at the university, got to see the results of F&S’ hard work
firsthand when he participated in the faculty procession.
“It was great to march in academic regalia with colleagues and
to see all that F&S contributes to a successful year with these
great graduates,” said Attalla. “At F&S, Commencement Weekend
always means a team effort.”
Did You Know?
F&S plants more than 8,000 annual flowers before graduation, and approximately
the same number are planted in late May to avoid possible late frost damage.
Insider, Summer 2019 • 9