UNK to graduate 244 at July 31 summer commencement

KEARNEY – Graduate and undergraduate degrees for 244 will be conferred at University of Nebraska at Kearney commencement exercises at 10 a.m. Friday, July 31. The exercises are in the Nebraskan Student Union.

Marilyn Hadley, faculty emeritus, Teacher Education, will deliver the commencement address.

John Gibbs will give the senior class reflection. Gibbs, a native of Lincoln (Pius X High School) is graduating honorable mention with honors with a degree in sports administration. He will pursue a master’s in counseling student affairs.

Gibbs is a member of Mortar Board, active with the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and student government. While at UNK he also has served as New Student Enrollment leader, student diplomat, resident assistant, Thompson Scholar Learning Community mentor and worked with First Year Programs.

Hadley, Ed.D, is a native of Red Cloud. She earned her Bachelor of Science in education and Master of Arts in education from University of Nebraska-Lincoln and taught secondary social studies in Wisconsin and Nebraska. After earning her doctorate from the University of South Dakota, she spent 28 years in higher education.

Following two years of teaching at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Hadley became professor of educational psychology and served as director of the Educational Research and Service Center during her 13 years at the University of South Dakota. After joining the faculty at UNK in 1992, Hadley taught in the Professional Teacher Education department and served as department chair, associate dean and dean of the College of Education.

Her research and service interests centered on teacher education as well as the role of women administrators in higher education. She was a member of many state and national professional education organizations as well as ACE National Identification Program for Women Administrators and National Network for Educational Renewal. She served in a variety of leadership roles associated with those organizations, and testified before the Education Committee of the Nebraska Legislature several times on teacher education issues.

Following retirement in 2006, Hadley has indulged her passions for reading, international travel and community service, and has been an interested observer of Nebraska state government.

Doors to the Ponderosa Room (second floor, Nebraskan Union) open at 8:30 a.m. Parking is available east of the Nebraskan Student Union, north of College of Education, west of Cope Stadium, and in lots near Centennial Towers East and West. Because of renovation and construction in the Nebraskan, the east lower level is closed. The south doors, central and main entrances are suggested. The north entrance on the west end is also available, and has an elevator.

The national anthem will be performed by 2003 UNK alumna Kami Graves.

An overflow area will be available for watching in the Sandhills Room of the Nebraskan.

For those unable to attend in person, UNK commencement ceremonies are webcast at www.unk.edu

When: 10 a.m., Friday, July 31
Where: Ponderosa Room, second floor, Nebraskan Union
Social Media: Follow @UNKearney and #lopergrad on Twitter to see photos and posts from 2015 graduates, their friends and families
Live Broadcast: Watch Commencement live and join in the #lopergrad conversation at http://unk.edu/eventdashboard

Candidates For Degrees

Candidates for degrees are listed below in three groups: graduates from Nebraska, graduates from across the United States and international graduates. Nebraska graduates are listed in alphabetical order by hometown. Out-of-state graduates are listed in alphabetical order by state. International graduates are listed in alphabetical order by country. Degrees are listed. Students graduating with honors have the honors noted after their names. Honors, along with grade point averages necessary to earn those honors, include: summa cum laude, 3.90-4.00; magna cum laude, 3.80-3.89; cum laude, 3.70-3.79; and honorable mention, 3.50-3.69.

NOTE: Abbreviations that appear in the listings, and what they represent, are:
Undergraduate Degrees                                   
BA – Bachelor of Arts
BAE – Bachelor of Arts in Education
BS – Bachelor of Science
BSE – Bachelor of Science in Education
BFA – Bachelor of Fine Arts
BGS – Bachelor of General Studies
BM – Bachelor of Music

Graduate Degrees (GR)                   
EDS – Education Specialist
MA – Master of Arts
MAED – Master of Arts in Education
MS – Master of Science
MSE – Master of Science in Education
MBA – Master of Business Administration