David Horsey, Pulitzer prize-winning editorial cartoonist, will be the featured speaker at the University of Washington's 26th Annual Freshman Convocation, which begins at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 in the Bank of America Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

Horsey, who received a bachelor's degree in communication from the UW in 1976, was an editorial cartoonist at the UW student newspaper, The Daily. He started working for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in 1979. His work can be seen at seattlepi.com and davidhorsey.com.

About 4,000 people are expected to attend this event (tickets are available at www.convocation.washington.edu), which welcomes the entering class. Convocation officially marks the beginning of the academic year, with classes starting Sept. 30. The event will be rebroadcast by UWTV; information is available at http://www.uwtv.org/.

The academic procession will be led by Ronald M. Moore, professor of philosophy and university marshal, carrying the university mace. President Mark A. Emmert, members of the Board of Regents, deans, vice presidents, student leaders and recent faculty recipients of outstanding teaching awards, among others, will march in the procession. The convocation will also feature music by the University Wind Ensemble.

Following the convocation President Emmert will host the annual President's Picnic on the Rainier Vista lawn.

Preliminary figures suggest the UW freshman class will include about 5,275 students.