April 8, 2005 :: Record Number of College Grads Expected Across State for 2004-05

Media Contact

Early estimates indicate that Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities have produced yet another record crop of graduates this school year.

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education estimate that approximately 29,600 students will have earned college degrees during the 2004-05 academic year throughout the state system. More than half of the graduates will be receiving bachelor’s degrees.

Preliminary information relating to degrees awarded in FY2005 was gathered in a survey of higher education institutions. Official data for the 2004-05 academic year will be available later.

The most popular fields of study among the estimated 8,400 students who will be receiving associate degrees are business, nursing and general studies.

Business, education and nursing are the programs most frequently selected by the estimated 15,600 students earning bachelor’s degrees.

An estimated total of 4,400 students will receive master’s degrees in a variety of fields, most notably in business and nursing.

Another 400 students will earn doctorate degrees, while an estimated 875 others will receive professional degrees in areas such as law and medicine.

“This time of the year is truly special for the thousands of students who will be earning degrees from our state’s public colleges and universities,” Chancellor Paul G. Risser said. “Every one of them should feel proud of his or her accomplishments and should look forward to a bright and promising future. We wish them well.”

Distinguished representatives from various fields will deliver commencement addresses during this spring’s graduation ceremonies. Ceremonies are listed alphabetically by city and include dates, times, locations and speakers’ names, where available.

East Central University, Ada, will hold two separate commencement ceremonies May 14 in the Kerr Activities Center. The majority of bachelor’s degrees will be presented during a 10 a.m. ceremony, while all master’s degrees, along with bachelor’s degrees in nursing; elementary education; early childhood and special education; psychology; social work; counseling; and criminal justice, will be presented during a 2 p.m. ceremony. Dr. Tommy Hewett, former owner of Diagnostic Pathology Services, Inc. in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, will serve as commencement speaker at the 10 a.m. ceremony, while Dr. Harry Dean, president and chief executive officer of Pitsco Inc. in Pittsburg, Kan., will speak during the 2 p.m. ceremony. This year marks the 95th year that ECU has held a spring commencement.
Western Oklahoma State College in Altus will hold its 77th annual graduation ceremony at 8 p.m. May 13 in the Herschal H. Crow Fine Arts Auditorium.
Northwestern Oklahoma State University will hold its 106th annual commencement ceremony at 10:30 a.m. May 7 at Ranger Field in Alva.
The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, Chickasha, will hold its 97th spring commencement at 8 p.m. April 22 in Troutt Hall Auditorium. Yves Berthiaume, international president-elect of Optimist Club International, will be the commencement speaker. This will mark the third commencement this academic year for USAO, which operates on a trimester system.
Rogers State University, Claremore, will hold its 93rd annual commencement ceremony at 1 p.m. May 7 at the Claremore Expo Center.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant will hold its 95th annual commencement ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. May 14 in Bloomer Sullivan Gymnasium. Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, will be the featured commencement speaker during the 10 a.m. ceremony, while Rep. John Carey, D-Durant, will speak to graduates during the 1 p.m. ceremony.
The University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, will hold four separate commencement ceremonies over a two-day period inside Hamilton Field House on the UCO campus. The first is scheduled for 3 p.m. May 6 for bachelor’s degree graduates from the College of Education and Professional Studies, and the second is at 7 p.m. for master’s degree graduates from the College of Education and Professional Studies and graduates from the College of Mathematics and Science. The third ceremony begins at 10 a.m. May 7 for the College of Business Administration graduates, followed by the 2 p.m. commencement for graduates of the College of Arts, Media and Design and College of Liberal Arts.
Redlands Community College in El Reno will hold its 66th annual commencement at 8 p.m. May 13 in the Redlands Field House. Norma Noble, Oklahoma deputy secretary of commerce for workforce development, will give the address.
Dr. Thomas Palmer, former president (1971-87) and emeritus faculty of Oklahoma Panhandle State University, will be the guest speaker at OPSU’s 95th graduation ceremony at 10 a.m. May 14 in the Oscar Williams Field House in Goodwell.
Langston University will award Oklahoma’s first doctorate degrees in physical therapy during its 105th annual commencement at 11 a.m. May 14 at Anderson Stadium on the LU campus. Dr. Emily Harris, associate vice president at LU-Tulsa, will give the commencement address during the school's fourth commencement ceremony at 7 p.m. May 5 inside the Tulsa Performing Arts Center.
Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Steven Taylor will speak to graduates at Cameron University’s 97th annual commencement at 10 a.m. May 7 at Cameron Stadium in Lawton. In case of inclement weather, two ceremonies will be held in the Great Plains Coliseum at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The 84th annual commencement exercises at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, Miami, will take place at 8 p.m. May 5 in the new Student Activity Center of the east side of campus. NEOAM Alumnus J.V. Haney (class of 52) will provide the commencement address.
Retired Brig. Gen. Ben Robinson will be the featured speaker during the 35th annual commencement ceremonies at Rose State College, Midwest City, May 6. Two separate ceremonies will be held at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the RSC Communications Center.
The University of Oklahoma, Norman, will hold its 113th annual graduation ceremony at 7:30 p.m. May 13 inside the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, will address OU graduates. This marks the first time in modern history that the OU commencement will be held in the evening. In addition, with assistance from Tony Award-winning producer and OU Regent Max Weitzenhoffer, guests will enjoy a ceremony with some special theatrics, including pyrotechnics.
Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett will speak to graduates at Oklahoma City Community College’s 33rd annual commencement ceremony at 7:30 p.m. May 13 in the Cox Business Services Convention Center.
Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City will hold its 42nd annual commencement at 7:30 p.m. May 16 in the Cox Business Services Convention Center. Oklahoma First Lady Kim Henry will serve as commencement speaker.
Dr. Reynaldo L. Martinez Jr., OSU associate professor and coordinator of occupational education studies, will be the commencement speaker at OSU Technical Branch-Okmulgee at 7:30 p.m. April 22 in Covelle Hall Auditorium. This will be the third commencement this academic year for OSU-Okmulgee, which operates on a trimester system.
Carl Albert State College in Poteau will hold its commencement ceremony at 7:30 p.m. May 6 in the Mick Thompson Fitness Center.
Seminole State College will hold its 72nd annual commencement at 10 a.m. May 14 in Raymond Harber Field House on the SSC campus.
OSU, Stillwater, will celebrate its 110th annual commencement over two days. The Graduate College commencement is scheduled for 7 p.m. May 6 in Gallagher-Iba Arena. The colleges of Business Administration; Architecture and Technology; and Human Environmental Sciences will hold their undergraduate commencement May 7 at 10 a.m. in Gallagher-Iba Arena, while the colleges of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources; Arts and Sciences; Education; and Veterinary Medicine will hold their undergraduate ceremony at 2 p.m. Ross McKnight, president of RoMac Oil Co. in Throckmorton, Texas, will give the commencement address.
Northeastern State University President Dr. Larry Williams will serve as commencement speaker for NSU’s 96th annual graduation ceremonies at 9 a.m. and noon May 7 at Doc Wadley Stadium in Tahlequah. He will also speak to NSU-Broken Arrow graduates at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. May 9 during commencement exercises in the Tulsa Community College Performing Arts Center located on TCC’s Southeast Campus.
Murray State College will hold its 97th annual commencement at 7 p.m. May 6 on the north lawn of the college’s administration building in Tishomingo. Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby will serve as commencement speaker.
Northern Oklahoma College will welcome Jim Carter, president and CEO of Carter Chevrolet in Okarche, as commencement speaker during its 99th annual graduation ceremonies at 9:30 a.m. April 30 in Foster-Piper Fieldhouse in Tonkawa and at 3 p.m. in Briggs Auditorium on NOC’s Enid campus.
Robert K. Goodwin, president and CEO of the Points of Light Foundation in Washington, D.C., will speak to graduates during TCC’s 35th annual commencement at 7:30 p.m. May 6 inside Oral Roberts University’s Mabee Center in Tulsa.
The OSU Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, will hold its 29th commencement ceremony for graduates of the College of Osteopathic Medicine at 10 a.m. May 14 inside the TCC Performing Arts Center on TCC’s Southeast Campus. Scott Meachum, director of the Office of State Finance, will give the commencement address.
Kathy Taylor, Oklahoma secretary of commerce and tourism, will serve as speaker during OSU-Tulsa's sixth annual commencement ceremony at 7 p.m. May 9 in the historic Pavilion at Expo Square in Tulsa.
Dr. Paul G. Risser, chancellor of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, will be the featured speaker during Connors State College’s 96th annual commencement at 7 p.m. May 6 inside the Melvin Self Fieldhouse in Warner.
Southwestern Oklahoma State University’s 101st annual commencement will take place at 10 a.m. May 7 at Milam Stadium in Weatherford. Douglas A. Keszler, professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry at Oregon State University, will be the commencement speaker. He will also be inducted into the SWOSU Distinguished Hall of Fame during the ceremony.
Eastern Oklahoma State College’s 96th annual commencement will be held at 6:30 p.m. May 6 on the front lawn of the college’s library in Wilburton. Serving as commencement speaker will be U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, D-Okla.