NSU prepares to celebrate spring & summer 2025 graduates

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Northeastern State University will recognize 1,103 graduating students at the spring 2025 commencement ceremonies scheduled on May 9, 10 and 12.

On May 9, starting at 4 p.m., the NSU Oklahoma College of Optometry commencement ceremony will take place at the NSU Center for the Performing Arts in Tahlequah.

Later that day, the Gregg Wadley College of Science & Health Professions commencement ceremony will be held in the NSU Event Center at 6:30 p.m.

On May 10, the NSU Event Center in Tahlequah will host the commencement ceremonies for the College of Education, starting at 9:30 a.m., and the College of Business & Technology and College of Liberal Arts, starting at 1:30 p.m.

On May 12, the commencement ceremony for all NSU-Broken Arrow colleges will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the ORU Mabee Center in Tulsa.

Addressing the graduates and their guests will be Dillin Springwater, 2024 NSU Outstanding Young Alumnus, Reggie Ivey, 2024 NSU Distinguished Alumnus and Michael Spurgeon, 2024 Recipient of the President's Award for Community Service.

In 2015, Springwater graduated from NSU with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He leads three companies in Tahlequah and has received the Tahlequah Daily Press Everyday Hero award for his commitment to community support, helping youth and growing businesses. He also helped raise $15,000 for Habitat for Humanity.

Springwater contributes to several NSU clubs. He founded the NSU Quarterback Club, is a sponsor of NSU Athletics, a member of NSU Alumni Association and serves on the NSU College of Business & Technology Advisory Board.

Springwater will deliver the commencement address for the Gregg Wadley College of Science & Health Professions ceremony on May 9.

Ivey graduated from NSU in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He has worked in public health for over 30 years, including with the Oklahoma State Department of Health and the Tulsa Health Department.

He previously served as associate executive director at the Tulsa Health Department and is now the executive director of Northside Neighbors, an organization established recently to serve north Tulsa. He is also the founder and board president of Be Well Development Corporation. Ivey gives back to NSU as a member of the NSU Black Alumni Association.

Ivey will deliver the commencement address for the College of Education and the College of Business & Technology and College of Liberal Arts ceremony on May 10.

Spurgeon graduated from the Army’s Officer Candidate School, where he was the class distinguished honor graduate and became a commissioned officer in the United States Army. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Edison State College and a master’s degree in public administration from Rutgers University.

With more than 36 years of experience in local government, Spurgeon has worked on innovative projects to increase student enrollment at the NSU-Broken Arrow campus and played a key role in the creation of the Sunset Amphitheater in Broken Arrow.

Spurgeon will deliver the commencement address for the NSUBA ceremony on May 12.

Guests are welcome to attend all ceremonies. NSU will also livestream the commencement ceremonies for loved ones who are unable to attend in person.

For more information about NSU’s spring 2025 commencement ceremonies, visit nsuok.edu/commencement.

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