Bowling Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University’s 159th Commencement will be divided into two ceremonies during commencement weekend May 12-13.

The graduate student commencement ceremony will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 12, at Diddle Arena while the undergraduate commencement ceremony will begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at Smith Stadium.

The university will confer 2,254 degrees to May and August graduates, a record number that continues to reflect WKU’s enrollment growth.

At the graduate ceremony, the University will confer 444 master’s and 13 specialist degrees. At the undergraduate ceremony, the University will confer 161 associate and 1,636 baccalaureate degrees. President Gary Ransdell will deliver commencement remarks at both ceremonies.

About 250 students are expected to participate in the graduate ceremony with about 1,300 expected for the undergraduate ceremony, Registrar Freida Eggleton said.

“Having a separate graduate ceremony is becoming more popular nationally,” Eggleton said. “The focus of this ceremony will be somewhat different since these students have already participated in an undergraduate ceremony.”

In the graduate ceremony, each student will be individually hooded. The ceremony also will include recognition of the outstanding graduate students from each college as well as the announcement of this year’s recipient of the John D. Minton Award. A reception will follow in Diddle Arena’s Hall of Champions.

The undergraduate ceremony will be conducted again this year as an evening ceremony. “Last year’s evening ceremony proved to be very popular and was spectacular under the lights of Smith Stadium,” Eggleton said.

During this year’s ceremony, students and faculty members will be seated by college on Feix Field. When students line up for individual recognition, faculty will form an honor guard as students exit.

The ceremony will include recognition of honor graduates and will include new college banners that have been redesigned for WKU’s Centennial. The Commencement program also will have a Centennial theme with historic photographs of 1929, 1948, 1959, 1970 and 1984 ceremonies.

WKYU-PBS will broadcast the undergraduate ceremony live on May 13 with a replay at 3 p.m. May 14.

Other commencement weekend events include the following:
Master of Social Work Pinning Ceremony, 4 p.m. May 12 at Mass Media and Technology Hall Auditorium.

Outstanding Black Graduates Recognition Ceremony, 6:00 p.m. May 12 at Van Meter Auditorium.

Nursing Associate Degree Pinning Ceremony, 1:30 p.m. May 13 at Downing University Center Theatre.

Dental Hygiene Pinning Ceremony, 2 p.m. May 13 at Grise Hall Auditorium.

Army ROTC Commissioning, 3 p.m. May 13 at Tate Page Hall Auditorium.

Nursing Convocation, 4:30 p.m. May 13 at Van Meter Auditorium.

Weather note: The commencement ceremony will be held in Smith Stadium regardless of rain or temperature; however, severe weather could force the postponement or cancellation of the ceremony. If the weather appears questionable, call 1-888-CALL-WKU, (270) 745-0111 or (270) 745-3351 beginning at noon May 13 for a recorded message or check the WKU website at www.wku.edu.  

Degrees conferred at WKU’s May commencement since 2000
2006: 2,254
2005: 2,167
2004: 1,917
2003: 1,802
2002: 1,653
2001: 1,466
2000: 1,582

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.

-WKU-
"A leading American university with international reach"

Office of Media Relations
Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd., Bowling Green, Ky. 42101-3576
Phone: (270)745-4295 - Fax: (270)7455387 - E-Mail: western@wku.edu