Friday’s commencement ceremony at Drake Stadium will honor John Wooden, the legendary UCLA basketball coach who died June 4.
Ninety-nine students will gather at Collins Court in the Wooden Center at 4:30 p.m. and will enter the stadium after the main procession carrying blue-and-gold flags, said Julie Sina, chief of staff of the College of Letters and Science. The students will represent the diversity of UCLA’s student body, she said, with 33 student-athletes, 33 student scholars and 33 student leaders.
Flavia de la Fuente, the student speaker for College’s ceremony, will carry the 99th flag, which will have Wooden’s name as well as his birth and death dates, Oct. 14, 1910 and June 4, 2010 respectively. De la Fuente will place the 99th flag on stage, at which point a montage honoring Wooden will appear on the stage.
Chancellor Gene Block will also speak about Wooden’s legacy.
Approximately 4,500 students will be present at the ceremony as well as thousands more friends and family.