By Mallory Sherwood, Managing Editor

Lester Holt, MSNBC anchor, rescheduled his speaking engagement for Dec. 1 after postponing his original speaking date on Sept. 22, when Hurricane Katrina hit Galveston.

Holt was supposed to be the first speaker in the Centennial Speaker Series, but will now follow Pat Summerall, former NFL announcer, who is scheduled to speak Nov. 8 and Dr. Kenneth Elzinga, professor of economics at the University of Virginia, who spoke on Sept. 26. Holt cancelled his arrival to Abilene after airports in the Gulf region were closed because of Hurricane Katrina.

Jennifer Ellison, Centennial activities coordinator, said the Centennial committee has asked Holt to follow the same schedule as in September, but that he has been unable to confirm everything. Holt is scheduled to speak at 7 p.m. in the Teague Special Events Center and to attend the sponsor reception following.

Other events he may attend are a campus tour with Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, an NBC interview with Dr. Gary McCaleb, vice president of the university, and receiving the Lamp Award.

Ellison said once Holt informs the committee of his schedule and buys his plane ticket, then a more definite schedule will be made. She said he will be on campus on Dec. 1 for only a matter of hours.

Ellison said more than 400 people bought tickets prior to Holt’s postponement in September, and that those people would be contacted this week to see if they could still attend the event in December. She said those that still want to attend will be reissued a ticket at no charge and those who couldn’t attend would receive a refund.

Although the event has been moved to the end of the semester, Ellison said she still expects between 400-500 people to attend. Tickets can be purchased at the Alumni Office, by calling 674-2622 or by visiting the Centennial Web site at www.acu.edu/alumni/whatsnew/rsvp or by clicking on the link at the Centennial Calendar Events Web site.