MURRAY, Ky. — Murray State University will celebrate Spring 2019 Commencement on Saturday, May 11, in the CFSB Center with a pair of ceremonies. The first is set for 9 a.m. and will include degree candidates from the Bauernfeind College of Business, College of Humanities and Fine Arts and Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology. The second will follow at 2 p.m. and will include degree candidates from the College of Education and Human Services, Hutson School of Agriculture, School of Nursing and Health Professions and Center for Adult and Regional Education.
A total of 1,406 degree applicants make up the two ceremonies — including doctoral, specialist, master’s, baccalaureate and associate degrees — with 31 states and 19 countries represented among May and August 2019 graduates.
Each ceremony is scheduled to begin with the Presentation of Colors by the Murray State University Army ROTC Color Guard, while Distinguished Professor Stephen Lacewell, professor of finance in the Department of Economics and Finance, will serve as mace-bearer.
The outstanding seniors for spring 2019, Morgan Pulliam and J.T. Payne, will lead the degree candidates for the conferral of degrees. During the morning ceremony, Pulliam will provide the valediction; she is graduating with the honors medallion and a Bachelor of Arts degree in business. Payne will give the valediction at the afternoon ceremony while receiving a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with an agricultural education track.
Murray State faculty in attendance will be led into the arena for both ceremonies by the recipients of the Regents Teaching Award for Excellence: Crystal Coel (also the Max Carman Teaching Excellence Recipient), Katherine Hancock, Michael Bordieri, Aaron Irvin, Yousif Abulhassan, Michelle Casey, Kathy Stanczyk and Jeffrey Henry. They will be joined by the University Distinguished Mentor Daniel Wann, Distinguished Researcher Alexey Arkov, University Emerging Scholars Danielle Muzina and Bikram Subedi and Faculty Advisor of the Year Patty Parish.
Faculty marshals assisting with the overall ceremonies include Susana Bloomdahl, Traci Byrd, Heath Keller, Michael Kemp, Robert Lyons, Melony Shemberger, Matthew Shultz and F. Gilland Welsch.
Murray State President Dr. Bob Jackson will preside over the ceremonies and deliver welcome messages. Jackson, along with Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Mark Arant, will administer the Presentation of Candidates for Degrees.
The doors to the CFSB Center will open at 8 a.m. for the first ceremony and 1 p.m. for the second. Admission tickets are not required for either ceremony but seating will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Guests are encouraged to arrive as early as possible.
General guest parking is available in the Stewart Stadium parking lot, east of the CFSB Center and off U.S. Highway 641. Shuttle buses will be available to transport guests from the parking lot to the front doors of the CFSB Center beginning at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. The shuttle buses will also be available following both ceremonies to return guests to the parking lot.
Guests with accessibility needs may use the parking lot located off Gilbert Graves Drive. Guests with limited mobility may be dropped off at this location. Ushers will be available for assistance. Other special requests regarding accessibility needs can be directed to the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Access at 270-809-3155 on Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or to the CFSB Center at 270-809-5577.
Note that one or two family members may escort/accompany the individual/family member with limited mobility to their seats. Escorts may also be seated with the individual/family member with limited mobility in the designated seating.
For those unable to attend, both commencement ceremonies will be streamed live at murraystate.edu/streaming. Use #RacerGraduation on social media to share and document the graduation experience. More information about both ceremonies can be found at murraystate.edu/commencement.