Astronaut to deliver UConn commencement address
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — University of Connecticut alumnus Rick Mastracchio would have liked to deliver this year's graduation address to the school of engineering in person.
But he'll be out of town on May 10 — still orbiting the globe on the International Space Station.
So UConn has arranged for the 54-year-old astronaut to tape the speech in space.
His recorded address will be shown to more than 400 graduating seniors and their families on video.
Mastracchio earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and computer engineering from UConn in 1982. He'll receive an honorary doctorate.
The Waterbury native returns to earth from his eight-month mission and fourth trip into space on May 13.
