NU President Bounds to deliver Friday commencement address to 494 grads

When: 10 a.m., Friday, Dec. 18
Where: UNK Health and Sports Center, 24th Street and 15th Avenue, Kearney
Social Media: Follow @UNKearney and #lopergrad on Twitter to see photos and posts
Live Broadcast: Watch commencement live and join in the #lopergrad conversation at http://unk.edu/eventdashboard

KEARNEY – Graduate and undergraduate degrees for 494 will be conferred at commencement exercises 10 a.m. Friday at University of Nebraska at Kearney.

University of Nebraska President Hank M. Bounds will be the honored guest and commencement speaker for the exercises, with UNK Chancellor Douglas A. Kristensen presiding. UNK Health and Sports Center arena is the site for the event. Doors to the venue open at 8:30 a.m.

Bounds was appointed seventh president of the University of Nebraska in January 2015 and began his tenure as president April 13. Bounds grew up on a small farm in rural Mississippi. His service in the Army National Guard helped him pay for college, and he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi and a doctorate from the University of Mississippi.

Bounds’ 25-year career in education began as a high school teacher. He then rose to principal, superintendent and state superintendent before becoming Mississippi’s commissioner of higher education in 2009.  In that role, he oversaw a complex system of eight public universities including research universities, regional universities, an academic health science center, historically black institutions, a law center, a school of veterinary medicine and 200 institutes and centers. Together the system enrolled 85,000 students, employed 26,000 faculty and staff, and operated with a combined annual budget of $4.5 billion, including $500 million in research and development.

Heidi Hostert of O’Neill, who is graduating with an exercise science degree, will give the senior class reflection. Hostert is in the Honors Program, Mortar Board and Alpha Phi Sorority, as well as a member of Loper Programming Activities Council, Exercise Science Club and a Chancellors Ambassador.

The Choraleers, directed by David Bauer, UNK professor of Music and Performing Arts, will perform a pre-commencement concert and processional, “Canzon Duodecimi Toni,” by Giovanni Gabrieli. The national anthem will be sung by Danielle Kluver of Grand Island.

SEATING, PARKING INFO

Because of a larger number of students participating, UNK anticipates the arena will become full, and encourages guests to arrive early, bring minimal baggage and coats inside, and to fill every seat. Overflow rooms with live stream feeds and space for children to be disruptive if they need will be available in the Health and Physical Recreation gym and in classrooms nearby.

Standing along rails or at entrances is prohibited and will be enforced. UNK commencement ceremonies are webcast at www.unk.edu.

Parking in the west lots is encouraged. Visitors with handicap permits can park east of the Health and Sports Center. Those transporting a handicapped person will have access to drop off the person on the east side of the complex, but will need to move their vehicle to another lot.

Visitors with wheelchairs can sit in the corner seating sections on the main floor or use the elevator in the northeast corner of the building to sit in the designated section on the arena floor. Individuals who have difficulties with steps should arrive at least an hour early to have access to seats just below the railings on the main floor or to obtain seating on the arena floor seats.

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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