Curry cited wrong college in speech

NORTON, Mass., May 25 (UPI) -- TV host Ann Curry blundered during her commencement address at Massachusetts' Wheaton College when she cited alums from the wrong school.

The host of NBC's "Today" show told graduates at the Norton school Saturday that they are following in the footsteps of evangelist Billy Graham, film director Wes Craven and United Airlines Flight 93 passenger Todd Beamer, the Boston Globe reported Tuesday.

However, Wheaton College officials said those three men were graduates of a Wheaton, Ill., college that shares the same name. They said the offending portion was cut out of the transcript and video posted to the school's Web site.

"We didn't want to broadcast misinformation," Wheaton spokesman Michael Graca said.

"She gave a great speech," he said. "She went out of her way to meet with students before her speech and to get information about the college."

Curry apologized for the mistake in an open letter to the college.

"I am mortified by my mistake, and can only hope the purity of my motive, to find a way to connect with the graduates and to encourage them to a life of service, will allow you to forgive me," she wrote.