A U.S. senator, an ESPN reporter and the co-founder of Reddit are among the speakers lined up for Penn State commencement ceremonies at University Park in May.
University-wide, Penn State expects to award 13,894 degrees at spring commencement. That includes 226 associate, 11,435 baccalaureate, 1,590 master’s, 262 law, 244 doctoral and 137 medical degrees. At University Park, the school will award 8,500 baccalaureate, 1,037 master’s and 227 doctoral degrees.
This spring’s graduates will push the school’s all-time total of graduates over the 800,000 mark, with an estimated 802,436.
Most ceremonies are held May 5-7, with the law school ceremony on May 13.
University Park commencement schedule:
Friday, May 5
– Schreyer Honors College Medal Ceremony, 5 p.m., Eisenhower Auditorium
– College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, 8 p.m., Pegula Ice Arena
Speaker: Alton D. Romig, Jr., executive officer of the National Academy of Engineering.
– College of Engineering, 8 p.m., Bryce Jordan Center
Speaker: Patricia Stevens, chief technologist for Boeing Phantom Works Rotary Wing Programs.
Saturday, May 6
– Eberly College of Science, 9 a.m., Bryce Jordan Center
Speaker: Nina G. Jablonski, Evan Pugh University Professor of Anthropology at Penn State.
– College of Arts and Architecture, Noon, Eisenhower Auditorium
Speaker: Helen Maser, a graduating student with degrees in drawing and painting and sculpture and a minor in art history.
– Bellisario College of Communications, Noon, Bryce Jordan Center
Speaker: Lisa Salters, an award-winning ESPN reporter, 1988 Penn State graduate and former Lady Lion basketball player.
– College of Health and Human Development, 3 p.m., Bryce Jordan Center
Speaker: Kevin Lynch, founder of The Quell Foundation and a Penn State graduate.
– College of Information Sciences and Technology, 3 p.m., Eisenhower Auditorium
Speaker: Steve Huffman, co-founder and CEO of Reddit.
– College of Nursing, 6 p.m., Eisenhower Auditorium
Speaker:Janice Penrod, professor of nursing, Penn State College of Nursing and founder of Penn State’s Center for Nursing Research.
– College of the Liberal Arts, 6:30 p.m., Bryce Jordan Center
Speaker: Elizabeth Catchmark, student marshal graduating with degrees in African-American studies, English, philosophy and women’s studies.
Sunday, May 7
– Smeal College of Business, 9 a.m., Bryce Jordan Center
Speaker: Farnoosh Torabi, a financial expert, best-selling author, TV host and 2002 Penn State graduate.
– College of Education, 12:30 p.m., Bryce Jordan Center
Speaker: Thomas J. Gentzel, executive director and CEO of the National School Boards Association and a Penn State bachelor’s and master’s degree graduate
– College of Agricultural Sciences, 3:30 p.m., Bryce Jordan Center
Speaker: Chris R. Hoffman, vice president, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.
– The Graduate School, 6:30 p.m., Bryce Jordan Center
Speaker: Andrew Read, Evan Pugh Professor in Biology and Entomology, Eberly Professor in Biotechnology, and director of Penn State’s Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics.
Saturday, May 13
– Dickinson School of Law University Park, 10:30 a.m., Eisenhower Auditorium
Speaker: U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa.
A full list of speakers at commencement ceremonies at other campuses can be found here.
