Approximately 8,256 candidates for bachelor's degrees and 1,795 candidates for master's degrees are eligible to take part in the ceremonies that begin the evening of Monday, May 19.

"Commencement is a joyous time for our students and their loved ones as well as the faculty and staff at the university. The fact that we have reached a milestone of more than 10,000 students invited to take part in this year's ceremonies also underscores the university's importance to the community," said CSUN President Jolene Koester.

"Commencement is an opportunity to celebrate everything our graduates have accomplished and the wonderful possibilities that lie in their future," she said. "It is a time to recognize those who have helped them along the way - from friends and family members to the university faculty and staff. We invite the community to join us as we honor their efforts and achievements."

Among the dignitaries expected to help the record number of graduates commemorate the occasion are acclaimed conductor and alumnus Richard Kaufman, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Hector Tobar and entrepreneurial businessman and alumnus Steven Ow.

The three are slated to address graduating students during CSUN's commencement week.

The graduation celebration begins at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 19, with the Honors Convocation on the lawn in front of the Oviatt Library in the center of the campus, at 18111 Nordhoff St. in Northridge.

More than 1,600 students were invited to participate.

This year's convocation speaker is Kaufman, Pops Conductor with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Florida Orchestra. Kaufman, a noted violinist, also has an extensive career conducting and supervising music for film and television productions as well as performing film and classical music in concert halls and on recordings.

Kaufman was a "founding" student of what was then San Fernando Valley State College, but left before finishing his degree to pursue his music career. He finally returned in the 1970s and completed his bachelor's degree in music at CSUN in 1977.

He wrote the music and lyrics for Cal State Northridge's fight song, "Hail to the Matadors" in 1967.

The formal commencement ceremonies are as follows:

* - Students in the College of Business and Economics will celebrate their graduations beginning at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, May 20, on the lawn in front of the Oviatt Library. No speaker is scheduled.

* - The College of Science and Mathematics does not have a speaker planned for its ceremony, scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, on the lawn south of Manzanita Hall near the southwest corner of the campus near Nordhoff Street east of Etiwanda Avenue.

* - Pulitzer Prize-winning Los Angeles Times reporter Hector Tobar will address students at the College of Humanities' commencement ceremony, scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, on the Oviatt Library lawn.

Tobar is Mexico City bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times and author of "Translation Nation: Defining a New American Identity in the Spanish-speaking United States," and also the celebrated "The Tattooed Soldier," his first novel. He is the son of Guatemalan immigrants and grew up in Southern California. In 2006, Hispanic Business Magazine recognized Tobar as one of the "100 Most Influential Hispanics" in the United States.

* - The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences will celebrate its students' graduations at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, May 21, on the Oviatt Library Lawn. No speaker is scheduled.

* - Alumnus Steven Ow, president and CEO of Mica-Tech, Inc., will address the graduates of the College of Engineering and Computer Science at their ceremony, scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. on the lawn south of Manzanita Hall on Wednesday, May 21.

In 1989, Ow, who received his degree in engineering from CSUN a decade earlier, co-founded Micro Plus, Inc., an antenna/amplifier design and manufacturing company that became a technological leader in what was then the newly developing GPS field. Ow's innovative work received several patent awards. He also oversaw other patent developments that led to various commercial project designs and products. Micro Plus, Inc., was sold in 2001. Within a year, Ow developed Mica-Tech, Inc., a satellite-based grid management system.

* - The Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communications will celebrate its students' graduations at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May, 21, on the Oviatt Library lawn. No speaker is scheduled.

* - Students in the College of Health and Human Development will celebrate their graduations beginning at 8 a.m. on Thursday, May 22, on the Oviatt Library lawn. No speaker is scheduled.

* - The Michael D. Eisner College of Education does not have a speaker planned for its graduation ceremony, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, the Oviatt Library lawn.