Rogers State University will host two commencement ceremonies this year to celebrate nearly 400 graduates.
Graduates receiving associate degrees will participate in a morning ceremony, while graduates receiving bachelor’s degrees will participate in an afternoon ceremony. Both events will be held on Saturday, May 10, at the Claremore Expo Center.
Oklahoma Representative Tad Jones will be the commencement speaker for both ceremonies. Rep Jones was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1998. Currently, he serves as Chair of the Education Committee and Vice Chair of the Appropriations and Budget Committee. Jones received a business and marketing degree from the University of Tulsa and he and his wife, Samantha, live in Claremore with their two children.
This year will mark the university’s 96th commencement ceremony.
The schedule of events for the day includes:
- 8 a.m., the pinning ceremony for RSU nursing graduates will be held on campus at the Will Rogers Auditorium.
- 9 a.m., associate degree candidates will line up on the south side of the Expo Center. Family and friends are encouraged to be seated in the Expo Center at that time.
- 10 a.m., the commencement ceremony for associate degree candidates will begin in the Expo Center.
- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a graduate and family reception including refreshments will be held outside of the Expo Center
- Noon, bachelor’s degree graduates will line up on the south side of the Expo Center. Family and friends are encouraged to be seated in the Expo Center at that time.
- 1 p.m., the commencement ceremony for bachelor’s degree candidates will begin in the Expo Center.
Members of the RSU faculty and staff will participate in both commencement ceremonies.
Dr. Larry Rice, RSU president designate, will be joined by members of the RSU administration, faculty and staff at a reception outside of the Claremore Expo to be held from approximately 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. between the associate’s and the bachelor ceremonies. The dessert and appetizer reception will celebrate the graduates and their families.
The university expects to confer degrees to nearly 400 students, including more than 180 bachelor’s degree candidates, from its three campuses and RSU Online.
This event marks the seventh year RSU has graduated bachelor’s degree candidates since being accredited as a four-year university in August 2000.
For more information on RSU’s commencement activities, call (918) 343-7615 or visit www.rsu.edu/commencement.