Jim Hickey, national correspondent for ABC News, will address the Monmouth University graduates at its 73rd commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 16 at 1:30 p.m. at PNC Bank Arts Center. Monmouth University will award more than 1,000 degrees at the ceremony.

Jim Hickey

Jim Hickey is a 27-year veteran of ABC News and has been an anchor and correspondent for ABC Radio since 1995. He currently is the national correspondent for the ABC Radio Network. He was in the anchor chair for ABC News Radio's special coverage of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. ABC News Radio won a National Headliner Award for the 9/11 coverage and won an Edward R. Murrow Award for its coverage of the dramatic rescue of nine trapped coalminers in Pennsylvania, for which Mr. Hickey was the principal reporter. Prior to joining ABC News Radio, Mr. Hickey was a foreign correspondent for the ABC Television Network from 1980 to 1995. Mr. Hickey has covered many news stories including Lebanon's civil war, apartheid in South Africa, Nelson Mandela's release from prison, the fall of the Soviet Union, wars in Iraq, death of Princess Diana, funeral of Mother Teresa, and Hurricane Katrina. He was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1972 and was the Radio-TV information officer for Fort Benning, Georgia. He won a Time magazine Thomas Jefferson Award and the first annual Department of the Army Keith L. Ware Award for military reporting. Mr. Hickey has received many awards including the distinguished Eagle Scout Award by the Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Hickey graduated with a BA in speech from Western Michigan University in 1969. He resides with his wife, Dr. Marcia Clever, in Holmdel, New Jersey.

Toyin Falola

Toyin Falola is the Frances Higginbothom Nalle Centennial Professor in History at the University of Texas at Austin. He is among the world's pre-eminent historians of Africa in the twenty-first century. Dr. Falola's contribution in bringing awareness to the issues facing modern Nigeria and contemporary Africa can be found in over seventy books that he has either authored or edited, as well as countless articles. In his memoir, A Mouth Sweeter than Salt, Dr. Falola narrates with both insight and humor his journey of growing up during the formation of post-colonial Nigeria. He is the most published writer in African studies and is recognized as a critical and compassionate force in the promotion of present-day Africa through his involvement in the African Union, UNESCO, and the United Nations. He obtained his BA and PhD from the University of Ife, Nigeria.

Leonard Lomell

Leonard Lomell was an Army Ranger during WWII. He was recognized by historian Stephen Ambrose as the single individual, other than Eisenhower, who made possible the success of D-Day on June 6, 1944. He was a critical part of that mission. With about 200 other men in his company, they destroyed the German 155 mm guns before the cliff-top artillery could rain explosives down on troops landing on the Normandy coast. For this mission, he was awarded the Silver Star and Distinguished Service Cross. In addition, he received many awards for gallantry in action including the British Military Medal, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart with two clusters, the Croix de Guerre with Silver Lining, the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal, and the French Legion of Honor, the highest medal awarded by France for valor. He returned to civilian life in Toms River after the war. In 1957 he opened his own law firm and led the life of family man, community servant, and veterans' advisor. He graduated from Tennessee Wesleyan College and received a law degree from Rutgers University.