NDSU winter commencement ceremonies are scheduled for Friday, Dec. 17, at 4 p.m. in the Fargodome. A total of 688 graduate, professional and undergraduate students are eligible to participate, and 456 have indicated they intend to march in the ceremony.
Kevin Black, from Grand Forks, N.D., has been selected to speak as the class representative. Black will receive a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and management, and plans an engineering career, perhaps in the petroleum industry in western North Dakota. In addition, he hopes to eventually earn a master’s degree in business administration or public administration.
Black is this year’s student body president, and serves on several university committees, including the President’s Cabinet. Black’s campus involvement also has included roles as a resident assistant in Thompson Hall, Bison Ambassador and philanthropy chair for the Blue Key Honor Society.
Anthony Peterson, also from Grand Forks, will be the soloist for the ceremony. Peterson, who will receive a bachelor’s degree in vocal music education, is a member of Concert Choir and a Madrigal singer. Peterson also was in Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Bison Arts Singers and Gold Star Marching Band where he served as drum major in his final year. Peterson plans a career as a music educator.
Both Black and Peterson are graduates of Red River High School.
During the ceremonies, alumnus Barry Batcheller will receive an honorary doctorate. A respected business leader who has built a career based on innovation and high technology, Batcheller graduated from NDSU in 1977. He most recently founded Appareo Systems, a leading firm in the area of Augmented Reality solutions that develops portable consumer electronics and 3-D graphics software. He was a founding partner and president of Phoenix International, an electronic design and manufacturing company. Established in 1987, Phoenix is the cornerstone tenant in the NDSU Research and Technology Park. John Deere purchased the company in 1999.
In addition, the oath of office will be administered to four students who have been active in either the Army or Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). Keith Bjerke, vice president for university relations and former adjutant general for the North Dakota National Guard, will administer the oath, after which the students will be second lieutenants.
For additional commencement details, including live stream information, visit www.ndsu.edu/commencement.