Emporia State
Friends and family of this year’s graduating class will stream into Emporia this weekend to share in the excitement of one of life’s biggest milestones.
Emporia State University’s 142nd commencement ceremony will take place Saturday at Welch Stadium. The ceremony to confer undergraduate and graduate degrees will begin at 9:30 a.m.
The spring 2009 graduating class consists of approximately 760 candidates for undergraduate degrees; graduate degrees will be awarded to 350 students.
Commencement speakers will include Dick Hedges, a member of the Kansas Board of Regents.
The commencement address will be given by Gen. Art Bloomer, a 1955 ESU graduate who is now chief executive officer and board chairman of Integrated Data Corporation. Bloomer and his wife, Sue, live in Wichita, and he serves as a trustee for the ESU Foundation.
Those unable to make the trip to Emporia will be able to see a live streaming video of the event. Links to the video coverage will be posted on the university’s Web site, www.emporia.edu.
If the weather turns bad, the ceremony will be divided into separate undergraduate and graduate exercises. Undergraduate degrees will be given at White Auditorium, 111 E. Sixth Ave., and the graduate degree ceremony will take place at Albert Taylor Hall on the ESU campus. Both exercises will take place at 9:30 a.m. Seating will be limited and will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Any announcements of weather-related changes in plans will be broadcast on KVOE-AM 1400, KVOE-FM 101.7 or KFFX-FM 104.9. Information also will be posted on the ESU and Gazette Web sites.
The decision to change locations will be made by 7:30 a.m. Saturday.
Additional information, including Emporia lodging accommodations and maps, is available at www.emporia.edu/commencement.
Emporia High
The president of Emporia High School’s Class of 2009, Seung-Yun Shin, will present the commencement address during graduation ceremonies set to begin at 3 p.m. Sunday in W.L. White Auditorium.
Music will be provided by the EHS orchestra, the Viva Voca mixed ensemble and members of the Senior Choir.
For the seniors, their high school careers will end after finals are over Thursday morning, according to information from Nancy Horst, community relations director for the school district.
“The class has 36 students who will graduate with honors, a distinction given to those with a 3.75 cumulative grade-point average during their four years in high school,” Horst said.
A total of 285 students will receive diplomas during the ceremony. The class also has collectively accumulated approximately $350,000 in scholarships to continue their educations.
On Saturday, local ministers have organized a senior sermon for students and their families who want to participate. The program, which is not affiliated with the school district, will begin at 7 p.m. in the EHS Auditorium.
Lee Alderman, director of the Emporia Rescue Mission and Abundant Harvest, will be the speaker with a message based on Matthew 14:25-31.
“It’s where Jesus calls Peter out of the boat to walk on water,” Alderman said.
The parallel is that graduating from high school will remove some barriers from their lives and allow them to make some great accomplishments, he said; accepting Christ in their lives will allow them to experience some miracles, like walking on water.
Hartford High
Sunday, 5 p.m., Hartford High School.
Olpe High
Sunday, 2 p.m., Olpe High School gym.
Lebo High
Sunday, 4 p.m., at the school, speaker will be Tony Hazen, Lebo United Methodist Church.
Chase County High
Sunday, 2 p.m. at the school, speaker will be Dan Menke.
Northern Heights
Saturday, 7 p.m., at the school.