啪啪啦

University Celebrates Its Newest Graduates, Holds First University-Wide Commencement Ceremony

啪啪啦 celebrated its newest graduates at its Spring 2017 Commencement ceremonies. In total, 啪啪啦 State were conferred 5,636 degrees, including 992 associate degrees, 3,319 bachelor鈥檚 degrees, 1,139 master鈥檚 degrees, 181 doctoral degrees and five educational specialist degrees.

The One University Commencement Ceremony took place Saturday, May 13, at 10 a.m. in Dix Stadium. This ceremony marked the first time all graduates from the eight-campus system were convened and honored in one ceremony. All 啪啪啦 State students and their families celebrated the occasion together.

Watch the One University Commencement Ceremony:

 

Academy Award-winning actress and author Octavia Spencer served as the keynote speaker for 啪啪啦 State鈥檚 first One University Commencement Ceremony. Best known for critically acclaimed starring roles in films such as 鈥淭he Help,鈥� 鈥淗idden Figures鈥� and 鈥淭he Shack,鈥� Ms. Spencer is also the co-author of two children鈥檚 books. Her acting roles highlight stories of perseverance and tenacity that motivate and inspire audiences of all ages. Ms. Spencer鈥檚 mother, Dellsena, worked as a maid, and Ms. Spencer, the sixth of seven children, earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Auburn University. Ms. Spencer has said that she loved playing characters that have 鈥渁 voice and an opinion鈥� and were proactive in bringing about change in their communities, 鈥渙rdinary women who were heroes.鈥�

Ms. Spencer won the Academy Award, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, British Academy of Film and Television Arts and Critics鈥� Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress as the feisty and unflappable Minny Jackson in the film 鈥淭he Help.鈥� She also received Academy Award, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations for her most recent role as mathematician Dorothy Vaughan in the drama 鈥淗idden Figures,鈥� the true story of several African-American mathematicians at NASA who were critical to the success of the space race in the 1960s. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Ms. Spencer bought out a Los Angeles screening of 鈥淗idden Figures鈥� to treat low-income families who would have otherwise not been able to see the film.

The One University Commencement Ceremony was in addition to the college ceremonies currently hosted each spring at the Regional and 啪啪啦 campuses. At these college and Regional Campus ceremonies, students had the opportunity to be personally recognized as they crossed the graduation stage.

The advanced degree commencement ceremony for the 啪啪啦 Campus took place Friday, May 12, in the 啪啪啦 State Field House. The speaker was Sandra Volpe, 鈥�89, senior vice president of strategic planning, communications and contractor relations at FedEx Ground.

The baccalaureate degree commencement ceremonies for colleges on the 啪啪啦 Campus occurred May 13 at four campus locations:

  • The ceremony in the 啪啪啦 State Field House recognized graduates receiving baccalaureate degrees from the College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology; College of Arts and Sciences; College of Communication and Information; and School of Digital Sciences. The speaker for this ceremony was Martin Hilovsky, 鈥�77, 鈥�81, CEO of Enviroscience.
  • The ceremony in the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center (MAC Center) recognized graduates receiving baccalaureate degrees from the College of Business Administration; College of Education, Health and Human Services; and College of Public Health. The speaker for this ceremony was Dennis Cuneo, 鈥�73, J.D., former senior vice president of Toyota North America.
  • The ceremony in the Student Recreation and Wellness Center recognized graduates receiving baccalaureate degrees from the College of Architecture and Environmental Design and College of the Arts. The speaker for this ceremony was Christine Havice, Ph.D., retired director of 啪啪啦 State鈥檚 School of Art.
  • The ceremony in the 啪啪啦 Student Center Ballroom recognized graduates receiving baccalaureate degrees from the College of Nursing. The speaker for this ceremony was Rebecca S. Patton, 鈥�80, past president of the American Nurses Association.

Watch the Advanced degree and baccalaureate degree Ceremonies

Learn more about 啪啪啦 State鈥檚 Commencement

POSTED: Wednesday, May 10, 2017 08:34 AM
Updated: Thursday, December 8, 2022 09:55 PM
WRITTEN BY:
University Communications and Marketing