BSU, USI Holding Commencement Events
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowMultiple colleges in the state will host commencement ceremonies this weekend. Ball State University will feature a keynote address from alum and Papa John's Pizza founder John Schnatter. The University of Southern Indiana's speaker will be a graduate who currently serves as executive producer of the Minnesota Vikings. News Release
Originally Posted March 17, 2015
MUNCIE, Ind. – John Schnatter, the founder and CEO of Papa John's Pizza, will deliver the address at Ball State University's annual Spring Commencement on Saturday, May 2, at 10 a.m. The university traditionally confers more than 2,500 degrees on the Arts Terrace. (In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be at Worthen Arena.)
In addition to being the ceremony's main speaker, Schnatter will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree. He graduated from Ball State in 1983 with a major in business administration. Returning to his hometown of Jeffersonville, Indiana, he sold his prized 1972 Camaro Z28 to save his father's business, Mick's Lounge, in 1984. He knocked down the broom closet, purchased used restaurant equipment and began delivering pizzas out of the back of the bar. A year later, he started his own restaurant, Papa John's. Today, Papa John's is the third-largest pizza chain in the United States, with more than 4,600 stores in all 50 states and 34 countries, and more than 21,000 employees.
“Our students, faculty and staff have closely followed John Schnatter's career,” said President Paul W. Ferguson. “John has demonstrated the abilities we encourage in our students. His story of hard work, perseverance and the willingness to take risks will be compelling and inspirational to each one in our audience. We are proud of his accomplishments and are so pleased to honor him at commencement.”
Under Schnatter's leadership, Papa John's has earned numerous national awards. The chain has been named the nation's best-run small company by Business Week and was ranked 10th on Forbes' list of the 200 best small companies in the U.S. Business First named the company Business of the Year in 2013, and in the same year, QSR Magazine recognized it among the country's best franchise opportunities.
Schnatter, who now lives in Anchorage, Kentucky, near Louisville, has received two awards from Ball State's Miller College of Business. He earned an Award of Achievement in 1993 and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2004.
Spring Commencement on the Fine Arts Terrace is among the university's greatest traditions. Past Ball State commencements have been graced by the presence of Tony Award-winning actress Sutton Foster; then U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar; Steve Kroft, senior correspondent for CBS' “60 Minutes”; Angela Ahrendts, senior vice president at Apple; Richard Linnehan, four times an astronaut on NASA space shuttles; Steve Inskeep, co-host of National Public Radio's “Morning Edition”; and Jeffrey D. Feltman, undersecretary general for political affairs at the United Nations, among others. The speaker at last May's commencement was Luke Messer, congressman for Indiana's Sixth District.
Source: Ball State University
May 1, 2015
News Release
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – 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 the Distinguished 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 to usi.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.
Founded in 1965, the University of Southern Indiana is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2015. USI enrolls approximately 9,500 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students in 80 majors. A public higher education institution, located on a beautiful 1,400-acre campus in Evansville, Indiana, USI offers programs through the College of Liberal Arts, Romain College of Business, College of Nursing and Health Professions and the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education. USI is a Carnegie Foundation Community Engaged University and offers continuing education and special programs to more than 15,000 participants annually through Outreach