Posted on May 9, 2006

Murray State University will host its 83rd Spring Commencement on Saturday, May 13, at the Regional Special Events Center. The program will begin at 10 a.m. with the Presentation of Colors by Murray State University’s Army ROTC Color Guard. With an all-time high of 1,262 degree applicants, Saturday’s graduation is anticipated to have the largest student participation in the schools history. Interim President Kern Alexander will confer degrees to members of the Murray State graduating class of 2006. Dr. Gary R. Brockway, provost, will preside over the awarding of degrees and Oliver Muscio, residential colleges council chair, will assist Alexander with the Residential College Investiture. Special recognition will be extended to members of the Golden Class of 1956 in attendance. The 2006 Distinguished Alumnus Award will be conferred upon Anna M. McHargue, M.D., 1956 summa cum laude graduate. McHargue was the first female flight surgeon at Travis Air Force Base in California. She retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserves with the rank of colonel. The 2006 Outstanding Senior Man and Woman will present valediction addresses. They are Mitchum Lee Owen of Buchanan, Tenn., and Tera Rica Murdock of Murray. Student Regent and SGA President Scott Ellison of St. Charles, Mo., will give the invocation. Distinguished Professor Celia Wall will carry the ceremonial mace to lead off the procession of academic banners and residential college shields. Following (in order of entrance) will be the degree candidates led by Murdock and Owen; faculty marshals CPT Fred Bates, James Broughton, Richard Dougherty, Dwayne Driskill, David Fender, CPT Brent Hulse, SFC Ronald Hurrigan, Michael Kemp, Michael Lanier, David Martin, Ginny Richerson, SFC Michael Taylor; the faculty led by Max Carman Professor O.L. Robertson; Distinguished Researcher Ramesh Gupta, Presidential Research Fellow Maeve McCarthy; and Regents Teachers David Durr, Susan Edington, Dana Manley, Marcie Johnson, Alysia Ritter, James Rogers and Patrick Williams. Eight retirees will make their final official commencement appearance as Murray State faculty. They include Ernie Bailey and John Griffin, university libraries; James Booth, department of organizational communication; Geneva Cooper, department of nursing; Milton Grimes, department of modern languages; Jane Hall, department of accounting; Jean Lorrah, department of English and philosophy; and Roger Schoenfeldt, department of management, marketing and business administration. Musical selections for the 2006 Spring Commencement will be performed by the Murray State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Dennis L. Johnson, conductor. Jacob Hein, senior music major from Henderson, Ky., will lead the Alma Mater. Stage decorations will be provided by the MSU Horticulture Club, under the direction of Dr. Pat Williams, adviser. An official photograph will be taken of each graduate shaking hands with the president. The entire ceremony will also be documented on DVD and copies made available to graduates who want to preserve their memories electronically. DVD order forms and photo information are available through links on Murray State’s website: www.murraystate.edu. Graduating students will begin arriving at the RSEC at 9 a.m. They are asked to assemble at the circle drive outside Gate A to pick up name cards. Marshals will coordinate the lineup. Seating at the RSEC will be on a first-come basis. Guests with disabilities who require special assistance should note that the parking lot located off of Gilbert Graves Drive is available for a drop-off zone. A handicapped parking tag or special permission will be required to park in that location. Guests using wheelchairs may enter at Entrance B. A passenger elevator located in Lobby A provides access to the lower level arena floor. For more information or special requests, contact the Office of Equal Opportunity at (270) 809-3155 or the Regional Special Events Center at 809-5577; TDD: (270) 809-3361, as soon as possible. Murray State University welcomes families and friends to campus and invite them to join with the campus community as they celebrate 2006 Spring Commencement.