Summer commencement moving to Health and Sports Center

Pete Kotsiopulos to address 249 graduates

When: 10 a.m., Friday, July 29
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 from graduates, their friends and families
Live Broadcast: Watch Commencement live and join in the #lopergrad conversation at http://unk.edu/eventdashboard

KEARNEY – For the first time in recent years, University of Nebraska at Kearney summer commencement will be in the university’s Health and Sports Center.

Undergraduate and graduate degrees for 249 candidates are eligible to participate in exercises beginning 10 a.m. Friday.

Pete Kotsiopulos, a 1970 graduate of then-Kearney State College, who is now senior director of development for the University of Nebraska Foundation, will deliver the commencement address. A longtime friend of UNK and a community leader, Kotsiopulos is a former mayor of Kearney, chairman of the Nebraska State College Board of Trustees, and member of the Nebraska Postsecondary Education Commission.

Laramey Becker, a Loper basketball standout and graduate, cum laude, with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, fitness and wellness, will deliver the student address. Becker is a native of Trenton and Hitchcock County High School.

The size of graduating classes and number of family and friends wanting to attend the celebration made the Nebraskan Student Union’s Ponderosa Room cramped and prompted the move to the arena, planners said. They encouraged the community to join the larger venue commencement festivities as part of UNK’s Year of Celebration events marking the 111th anniversary of the institution and 25th anniversary of the move from Kearney State College to University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Shawna Beeler, class of 2016, will sing the national anthem, accompanied by Nolan Pribnow.

Doors to Health and Sports Center will open at 8:30 a.m. Lineup for graduates begins at 9 a.m. in Cushing Coliseum, and procession begins at 9:45 a.m. Parking in the west lots is encouraged. Visitors with handicap parking permits can park east of the Health and Sports Center. Family members 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 concourse or use the elevator in the northeast corner of the building to sit in the designated section on the arena floor. Ask a student ambassador or host for assistance in finding seating.

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

-30-

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.

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