CU-Boulder Confers 5,897 Degrees In Commencement

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - A crowd of about 20,000 watched roughly 5,900 University of Colorado-Boulder students earn degrees.

The Daily Camera reports the university conferred 4,593 bachelor's degrees, 884 master's degrees, 164 law degrees and 256 doctorates during the ceremony Friday.

Chipotle Chief Executive Steve Ells, an art history graduate of CU, delivered the commencement address. He opened his first restaurant in Denver in 1993.

The 45-year-old Ells has been recognized for supporting sustainable agriculture, but a small group of students outside the ceremony protested his speech. They said they're disappointed that Chipotle has not joined the "Campaign for Fair Foods," a national movement to better pay farm laborers.

CU President Bruce Benson urged the graduates to be generous with their time and money -- and not to forget their alma mater.

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