NSU to hold commencements May 15, 17

Northeastern State University will hold its Spring 2010 Commencement ceremonies on May 15 in Tahlequah and May 17 in Broken Arrow.

"We are excited for our students and their families and friends," said Bill Nowlin, NSU's dean of Enrollment Management Services. "This is a celebration of accomplishing a life-changing event. Northeastern is honored to be their alma mater and hopes our graduates will stay connected to their university."

The Tahlequah ceremony is in the Jack Dobbins Field House, due to inclement weather, at 10 a.m. and includes all colleges. The commencement includes a five-minute address by a student speaker on behalf of the graduates and a reception in the football practice facility afterward. The reception is an opportunity for faculty and graduates to gather for conversation, introductions and photographs. Punch and cookies will be served.

Rennard Strickland will be awarded an honorary doctorate and deliver the commencement address. He is a 1962 graduate of Northeastern State University and recognized nationally as an expert in American Indian law.

Commencement will be moved to Jack Dobbins Field House in the event of inclement weather. The colleges of Liberal Arts and Optometry will meet at 10 a.m., Business and Technology, Science and Health Professions convene at 12:30 p.m. and the final ceremony is at 2:30 p.m. for the College of Education.

"The decision will be made on the morning of May 13 as to the location," Nowlin said. "If we are outside, we encourage everyone to allow extra time for parking and getting settled in the stadium. We anticipate well over 7,000 will attend, and people should check the Commencement Instructions' webpage or NSU's homepagefor updates and changes."

The commencement for NSU-BA is at 7 p.m. for all colleges in the Union Multipurpose Activity Center at 6836 S. Mingo Road. A student speaker will give a five-minute speech on behalf of the students.

"The same situation exists in terms of allowing extra time for parking and getting settled into the UMAC," Nowlin said. "We anticipate over 4,000 people will attend and we may fill the arena."

Entrepreneur and former KTUL channel-8 anchor and reporter Cindy Morrison will deliver the commencement speech.

For the semesters Spring 2010 and Summer 2010, NSU will confer 1,297 degrees. Of those 1,066 are bachelor's degrees, 231 are master's and 26 are doctorates. Degrees in Business, Elementary Education and Psychology account for the greatest numbers of four-year degrees. School Administration, Reading and Psychology are the most-selected graduate degrees.