As of Dec. 11, a total of 444 students have indicated they will participate in the North Dakota State University commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 19, at 10 a.m. in the Fargodome. According to Rhonda Kitch, associate registrar, 785 graduate and undergraduate students are eligible to participate.
Patricia Romaine, who is majoring in family and consumer science, has been selected to give the student address. The 30-year-old wife, mother, student and volunteer will represent her class with a talk titled "Things We Learn As We Look Back."
NDSU will award a posthumous bachelor's degree to Derrick D. Yates, a criminal justice major, who died Nov. 3. Jill Lund, Yates' mother, will accept the degree on his behalf.
Amanda Bopp, a native of Fergus Falls, Minn., will be the student soloist for the ceremony. She will sing the national anthem and "The Yellow and the Green." She will graduate with a bachelor's degree in vocal music education.
Kitch said all guests are welcome to attend the ceremony. Parking for the event is free at the Fargodome. Guests may enter through any general entrance of the Fargodome, with the east and west doors opening at 9 a.m. All seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and restricted to the concourse level.
In addition, NDSU colleges have scheduled a reception for graduates and their guests in the Fargodome's main lobby immediately following the ceremony. Light refreshments will be served.
The ceremony will stream live on the Internet at www.ndsu.edu/commencement. For more information, contact Kitch at 1-7987 or rhonda.k.kitch@ndsu.edu.