More than 200 students will graduate at BHSU fall commencement ceremony

More than 200 candidates for graduation will be recognized during the 170th Black Hills State University Commencement Ceremony.

More than 200 candidates for graduation will be recognized during the 170th Black Hills State University commencement ceremony.

The fall commencement ceremony is at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12 at the Donald E. Young Sports and Fitness Center on the BHSU campus. The public is invited to join and celebrate the students' achievements. Degrees to be awarded include seven master's degrees, 191 bachelor's degrees, and 19 associate's degrees.

The commencement processional will be led with the University mace, carried by Lucas Fralick, Student Senate president.

This year's keynote speaker will be alum Jerome Greene, an accomplished writer who will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Letters and Literature from BHSU. Greene, a retired historian, curator and manager with the National Park Service and the author of 17 books, four which focus on South Dakota history, will receive the Honorary Doctorate during the ceremony. He is being honored for his outstanding accomplishments in history and literature.

Dr. Rod Custer, provost and vice president of academic affairs at BHSU, and Kevin Schieffer, with the South Dakota Board of Regents, will offer separate greetings to the graduates. Dr. Tom Jackson, Jr., BHSU president, with the assistance of April Meeker, registrar at BHSU, will present the diplomas to the graduation candidates.

Steve Meeker, vice president for University Advancement, will welcome the graduates into the Alumni Association.

The National Anthem, along with special music "The Road Home" and "Hymn to BHSU," will be performed by the BHSU Concert Choir under the direction of Dr. Jonathan Nero, associate professor of music at BHSU. The recessional will be performed by Dr. Symeon Waseen and Dr. Christopher Hahn, assistant professors of music at BHSU.

The fall 2015 commencement ceremony will be broadcast live at www.BHSU.edu/Classof2015 for those who are unable to attend. BHSU encourages attendees to share their commencement story on social media with the hashtag #BHSU2015 in Twitter, Facebook and Instagram posts. A photo gallery from the ceremony will be available at http://photos.BHSU.edu after Monday, Dec. 14.