Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University’s 158th Commencement will begin at 10 a.m. Dec. 17 at Diddle Arena.

At the fall commencement ceremony, the University will confer a record 1,215 degrees – 126 associate, 788 baccalaureate, 297 master’s, two specialist and two cooperative doctoral degrees. WKU President Gary Ransdell will deliver commencement remarks.

WKU, which has conducted a December ceremony since 1996, has seen the number of fall graduates increase in recent years as the University’s enrollment has grown, Registrar Freida Eggleton said. The recent trend of December WKU graduates is: 2004 – 1,185; 2003 – 1,202; 2002 – 906; 2001 – 836; 2000 – 1,019.

About 700 students are expected to participate in the ceremony, Eggleton said.

The ceremony will include recognition of honor graduates and a parade of flags in recognition of international students.

WKYU-PBS will broadcast the ceremony live with a replay at 3 p.m. Dec. 18.

More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

For information, contact Freida Eggleton at (270) 745-5432.