PULLMAN, Wash. About 820 graduates, a near-record number, are expected to participate in the Washington State University fall commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at Beasley Coliseum. Tickets are not required for the free event.
Graduates from all colleges, regional campuses and distance education will be honored.
A shuttle will run from the Lewis Alumni Centre parking area 9 a.m.-1 p.m. to help alleviate congestion near the coliseum. Graduates are invited to ring the victory bell at the alumni center and have photos taken there.
WSU President Elson S. Floyd will confer degrees at the two-hour commencement ceremony, which will be available live through Cable 8 TV. It will be videostreamed live at http://www.experience.wsu.edu and archived there for future viewing.
Grad has tie to guest speaker
Among the graduates will be psychology major Samantha Crocker, who is one of two ROTC officer candidates who will be commissioned. Her aunt is the ceremony’s guest speaker, Brig. Gen. Julie A. Bentz, director for strategic capabilities policy on the National Security Staff (NSS) for the National Security Council and Homeland Security Council.Bentz is responsible for providing oversight and policy coordination to increase U.S. capability and capacity for nuclear defense. She is assigned to the NSS from the National Guard Bureau. She has served in a variety of active, reserve and National Guard assignments in nuclear defense, homeland security, health physics, environmental sciences and traditional nuclear, biological and chemical officer assignments.
Each student featured
The new central, four-sided scoreboard/video screen in the coliseum will ensure that everyone gets a great view all around, said Teri Hansen, WSU event coordinator. Close-ups will be featured on the screen of every student as they receive their diploma, thanks to a feed from KSWU TV.
The number of graduates participating is a near record for the fall commencement ceremony, Hansen said. In recent years, typically 600-700 have participated. Grads will include 697 undergraduates, 86 completing master’s degrees and 40 earning their Ph.D. degrees.
For details and updates about WSU fall commencement, go online here.