Soldier going to graduation via satellite

ST. LOUIS -- Keith Lucas will take time out from his normal chore of clearing Iraqi roads of bombs to graduate from college.

Thanks to the miracle of technology, Lucas will participate from Iraq today with classmates at the University of Missouri-St. Louis commencement ceremony.

Lucas is a trauma specialist for the Missouri Army National Guard's Alpha Company, 1140th Engineer Battalion. He also is an UMSL student with a 3.8 grade-point average earning a degree in mass communication.

A two-way satellite hookup will allow Lucas to receive his diploma with classmates during the 10 a.m. ceremony at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center on the UMSL campus.

Lucas spends most of his days conducting sweeps along major trade routes in Iraq. He searches for roadside bombs, then destroys them.

"Our company has stopped many of these bombs, and in doing so we have saved many lives," Lucas wrote in an e-mail to an UMSL administrator.

Lucas also provides emergency medical support and helps manage day-to-day health of his company's 120 soldiers. He is scheduled to return home in February.

Lucas has been finishing up his final course through the Internet -- English 3120, Business Writing.

Lucas will be the last student at the ceremony to receive his diploma. He will be seen on a giant screen behind the stage, with his relatives on the stage to watch.

The diploma will be handed to Lucas by his commanding officer. And just in case the satellite transmission fails or conflict in Iraq intervenes, a video of Lucas receiving the diploma was made in advance.