The University of Southern Indiana will hold five Spring Commencement ceremonies over two days, May 1 and 2, in the Physical Activities Center (PAC). More than 1,450 students are eligible to participate.
Of those, 19 graduate summa cum laude, 117 magna cum laude and 128 cum laude. Sixty-five graduates are University Honors Scholars – students who have successfully completed the Honors Program – and can be recognized by the white honor cords worn with their regalia.
The Graduate Ceremony for master and doctoral degree candidates from all of USI’s Colleges will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 1, in the PAC. On Saturday, May 2, Spring Commencement exercises for undergraduate students will take place.
The College of Liberal Arts will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday; the Romain College of Business and Outreach and Engagement at noon;College of Nursing and Health Professions at 3 p.m. and Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education at 6 p.m.
Speakers at each Commencement ceremony will be USI alumni who have excelled in their professional lives.
Friday
The speaker for the Graduate Ceremony is D. Keith Jewell ’86 M’91, president of St. Mary’s Health in Evansville. He is a USI graduate with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in business administration.
Also at the Graduate Ceremony, Honorary degrees will be presented to Patricia A. Koch and Dr. Joey V. Barnett. The honorary Doctor of Laws will be awarded to Koch, retired director of values for Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari, and the honorary Doctor of Science to Barnett, professor of pharmacology, medicine, pediatrics, pathology, microbiology and immunology and acting chair of the Department of Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
Saturday
The College of Liberal Arts Commencement speaker is Bryan R. Harper ’96. He earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from USI and is preparing for his 12th season with the National Football League’s Minnesota Vikings, where he currently serves as executive producer. Also during the College of Liberal Arts ceremony, Kathryn M. Waters, professor of art, will receive theDistinguished Professor Award.
Eric R. Williams ‘89 will address graduates at the Romain College of Business and Outreach and Engagement ceremony. He holds a bachelor’s degree in management from USI, where he was appointed the first student trustee by Governor Robert D. Orr in 1985. Currently senior vice president and director of security at Old National Bank, Williams served in the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office for 26 years, retiring after seven years as sheriff.
Lisa F. Hancock ’97 is the Commencement speaker for the College of Nursing and Health Professions. Hancock has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from USI and a master’s degree in health administration from Indiana University. She is senior vice president of advisory services at Marwood Group in California.
The Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education Commencement speaker is Harolyn G. Torain ’71. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from USI, a master’s degree in secondary education from Indiana University and was an educational administrator for 32 years. She was the first USI graduate to serve as president of the USI Board of Trustees.
Also during the Pott College ceremony, Shelby N. Tarantino will receive the President’s Medal, the highest honor the University presents to a graduate. Tarantino is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, which she completed in three years, while maintaining a 4.0 GPA and competing on the USI Women’s Soccer Team.
Guests of graduates participating in the College of Nursing and Health Professions and College of Liberal Arts ceremonies require tickets to attend. For more information about all ceremonies, as well as links to other Commencement information, go tousi.ede/commencement.
Live video of each ceremony will be streamed in the University Center East Conference Center (Rooms 2217-2220). You also can view ceremonies via a livestream online. Instructions are available at www.usi.edu/it/commencement.
