WHAT: UNK Winter Commencement
WHEN: 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 19
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 WINTER GRADUATES
KEARNEY – The University of Nebraska at Kearney will host its winter commencement 10 a.m. Friday at the Health and Sports Center on campus.
Chancellor Neal Schnoor will confer degrees for 362 graduate and undergraduate students during the ceremony.
The keynote speaker is Jon Watts, senior associate vice president and chief operating officer for the University of Nebraska System.
A Kearney native, Watts previously served as assistant director of business services, director of business services and accounts payable and vice chancellor for business and finance during his 14 years at UNK. He oversaw more than $290 million in campus improvements, including new residence halls, a 90,000-square-foot STEM facility and the Douglas A. Kristensen Rural Health Education Complex, and played a key role in the development of University Village.
A former regional general manager for ALLO Communications, he was named the University of Nebraska System’s first chief operating officer in September, leading efforts to align business operations with the university’s strategic vision.
Watts served on numerous UNK and NU System committees and is a graduate of the Leadership UNK, Leadership Kearney and Leadership Nebraska programs. He received the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce Young Professional of the Year award in 2012 and Distinguished Leadership Kearney Alumni Award in 2016.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in communication studies with an emphasis in public relations from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master’s degree in management from Bellevue University. Watts remains active in civic and nonprofit leadership in Kearney, where he lives with his wife, Erin, and their three children.
The student speaker is Isaac Anderson, who graduates cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with accounting and finance emphases.
A graduate of Elm Creek High School, Anderson served in the U.S. Army for 4 1/2 years, reaching the rank of sergeant. He lives in Shelton with his wife, Kelsey, and their young son.
Anderson will pursue a Master of Business Administration through UNK, and he plans to complete the certified public accountant exam.
NU Board of Regents Chair Paul Kenney will also address the graduates. The national anthem will be performed by Richard Harbols of Kearney, who’s earning a degree in music education, 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.