Rogers State University’s 100th Commencement, featuring two ceremonies and more than 700 graduates, will be held Saturday, May 5, at the Claremore Expo Center, 400 S. Veterans Pkwy.
Graduates earning associate degrees will participate in a 10 a.m. ceremony, while graduates receiving bachelor’s degrees will walk during the 1 p.m. ceremony.
Attorney John W. Norman will deliver the commencement address at both ceremonies.
“I look forward to what Mr. Norman has to share during this year’s commencement address,” said RSU President Dr. Larry Rice. “He has proven to be a leader of remarkable character during his distinguished career and our graduates stand to gain a great deal from his perspective.”
Norman is a founding partner of Norman and Edem, PLLC in Oklahoma City. He is a native Oklahoman who earned his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Oklahoma.
A longtime friend of RSU, Norman was recognized in 2001 with the creation of the John W. Norman Endowed Chair in Business Information Technology at RSU. The endowed faculty chair – the first in RSU’s history – was established through the generous gifts of his friends and colleagues; the chair is currently held by Dr. Peter Macpherson.
Additionally, Norman and his wife Cecelia are no strangers to the RSU campus, including a 2010 visit where they announced a scholarship endowment to benefit students majoring in Game Development in RSU’s School of Business and Technology as well as the purchase of several advanced computer systems to serve the program. The Normans also were primary contributors toward establishing the Stratton Taylor Endowed Scholarship, which assists RSU students selected to participate in the Washington Center Internship Program that provides opportunity to engage in life-changing internships in the nation’s capital.
Norman has been active throughout his legal career in writing and speaking on the law of torts. He has served as lead attorney in trials and on appeal in a number of cases of first impression – not previously decided by an appellate court – including product liability, crash worthiness, and governmental immunity.
He has served as president of prestigious professional organizations such as the Inner Circle of Advocates and the Oklahoma Association for Justice. He also has taken leadership roles with the county, state, federal and national bar associations, the American Association for Justice, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Norman has been recognized for professional excellence by numerous publications, is a member of the Order of the Coif, has numerous selections as an Oklahoma Super Lawyer and is the recipient of an AV rating – the highest rating issued by the Martindale peer review system.
For more information on RSU’s commencement activities, call (918) 343-7615 or visit www.rsu.edu/commencement.