BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Fredricka Whitfield, news anchor for CNN Saturday and CNN Sunday, will address the Birmingham-Southern class of 2004 during the college's 145th Commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 29.

Whitfield, who was honored in May 2003 during the college's GALA XVI celebration of women of distinction, will keynote the 3:30 p.m. event in the Boutwell Auditorium in downtown Birmingham. More than 3,800 family members and friends are expected to attend Commencement, where Birmingham-Southern will confer some 252 bachelor's degrees and 18 master's degrees.

In addition to her weekend anchor duties, Whitfield also reports on worldwide breaking news events as a CNN correspondent from the network's headquarters in Atlanta. She also has been a correspondent for NBC News and served as an Atlanta-based correspondent for NBC Nightly News and The Today Show.

A graduate of Howard University, her many broadcasting awards include the Groit Award for excellence in journalism, the Associated Press Reporter of the Year Award, and the Society of Professional Journalists Rookie of the Year Award.

Birmingham-Southern's Commencement Day begins with the Baccalaureate Service at 10:30 a.m. in Bill Battle Coliseum on campus. Bishop Dr. Janice R. Huie, the resident bishop of the Arkansas Area for the United Methodist Church, will be the keynote speaker. Huie is president-designate of the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church, the highest elected office of the church.

The college's traditional Capping Ceremony is set for 6 p.m. on Friday, May 28, in Bill Battle Coliseum. During the ceremony, graduating students are “capped” with their mortar boards by a loved one or friend.