WHAT: UNK Summer Commencement
WHEN: 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 8
WHERE: UNK Health and Sports Center
SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow @UNKearney on Instagram, Facebook and X to see photos and posts
LIVE BROADCAST: Watch commencement live at http://unk.edu/eventdashboard
VIEW THE FULL LIST OF SUMMER GRADUATES
KEARNEY – The University of Nebraska at Kearney will host its summer commencement 10 a.m. Friday at the Health and Sports Center on campus.
Chancellor Neal Schnoor will confer degrees for 196 graduate and undergraduate students during the ceremony.
The keynote speaker is UNK alumna and criminal justice professor Theresa Wadkins.
A faculty member at her alma mater since 1990, Wadkins has served as chair of both the psychology and criminal justice departments and received numerous awards and honors, including the prestigious Pratt-Heins Award for Teaching and UNK Outstanding Teaching and Instructional Creativity Award. She has taught more than 20 courses, contributed to program development and published interdisciplinary research. Wadkins also actively participates in mentoring, university committees and professional associations.
In addition to her UNK degree, she holds a master’s in clinical psychology from Fort Hays State University, master’s in forensic science from Nebraska Wesleyan University and doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The student speaker is Omar Sanchez of Lexington, who graduates summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with emphases in accounting and finance.
An engaged campus leader, Sanchez served as vice president of the Residence Hall Association and philanthropy chair for the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He was also a senator in UNK Student Government, national qualifier in FBLA Collegiate and member of the Beta Alpha Psi accounting honor society.
Sanchez completed internships at Cornerstone Bank in Hildreth and Eide Bailly in Omaha, where he’ll start a full-time position after graduation.
NU Board of Regents Chair Paul Kenney will also address the graduates. The national anthem will be performed by UNK alumna Brette Ensz with accompanist Mirim Kim.
Those who are unable to attend in person may watch the ceremony via livestream on UNK’s website. A recording can also be viewed later on the website.
PARKING INFO
Commencement attendees are encouraged to park in the lots west of the Health and Sports Center. 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 individual 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 of the Health and Sports Center or use the elevator in the northeast corner of the building to sit in the designated section on the arena floor.
Doors open at 8 a.m.
BAG/PURSE POLICY
Guests should expect a visual inspection of person, bags and clothing capable of concealing prohibited items. Small clutch purses and wallets are preferred at entry and will expedite inspection.
PROHIBITED ITEMS
For safety reasons, prohibited items include but are not limited to:
- Any type of weapon, fake weapon or object resembling a weapon. This includes firearms, knives, tasers, chains and any item deemed to compromise public safety.
- Alcohol, drugs, illegal substances, vaporizing pens/E-cigs or any paraphernalia associated with drug use. The Health and Sports Center is a smoke-free facility.
- Animals (except service animals).
- Laser pens/pointers of any type.
- Noisemakers (including air horns, cowbells or whistles).
If a prohibited item is revealed during a search, patrons may dispose of the item or they may return the item to their vehicle. The UNK Health and Sports Center does not safeguard any personal belongings or items of any type.