NDSU will honor its largest ever fall graduating class during winter commencement ceremonies, which are scheduled for Friday, Dec. 14, at 4 p.m. in the Bison Sports Arena.
As of Dec. 10, a total of 756 graduate, professional and undergraduate students are eligible to participate, and 522 have indicated they intend to march in the ceremony.
The events are free and open to the public. Doors open 90 minutes before the start of the ceremony, and guests may enter through the north and south entrances. Guest seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Complete commencement information, including details on parking, is available at www.ndsu.edu/commencement.
Commencement speaker
Nathan Anderson, a native of Oxbow, N.D., will be the commencement speaker and is receiving a Bachelor of Science in accounting with an emphasis in finance. An outstanding student and active on the NDSU campus, he has been a member of the men’s golf team, serving as captain for the past three seasons. Anderson also is a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Council, advising the NCAA on proposed legislation and organizing volunteer activities such as blood and food donation drives, sandbagging efforts and community events for area children. He is a member of the NDSU Accounting Club and was selected by accounting faculty as the Outstanding Accounting Student of 2012.
Commencement soloist
Ashley Anne Jacobson, a native of Grand Forks, N.D., will be the commencement soloist. She will graduate with a Bachelor of Music in vocal music education with a minor in instrumental music education. Jacobson’s student activities include NDSU Concert Choir, Madrigal Singers and Bison Arts Singers, as well as participating in Opera and Musical Theatre productions. She also was a member of Blue Key Honor Society, Sigma Alpha Iota and the American Choral Directors Association. Jacobson was named Miss North Dakota 2007 and represented the state at Miss America 2008. Jacobson is married to Andrew and has a son, Calvin.
Honorary doctorate
NDSU alumnus Gregg Halverson will receive a Doctor of Agriculture, Honoris Causa. The president and CEO of Black Gold Farms, Halverson earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from NDSU in 1971. His Grand Forks, N.D.-based company is a family owned potato growing and marketing organization that is the world’s largest producer of fresh crop chipping potatoes.
Second lieutenant commissioning
Three students from the Department of Military Science (Army ROTC) will be commissioned as second lieutenants during the ceremony. The candidates are Melissa Bartholomay, North Dakota National Guard, Engineer Corps; Daniel Peterson, Minnesota National Guard, Military Intelligence; and Doug Wencl, Active Duty, Ordnance Corps.
Watch commencement online
The ceremony will be available online. Information can be found at www.ndsu.edu/commencement/webcast.
For further commencement details and information, visit www.ndsu.edu/commencement.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.