Saturday’s Spring Commencement at Michigan Technological University is a true beginning for hundreds of graduates and new military officers. It also marks the end of an era.
Commencement ceremonies will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena in the Student Development Complex. Nearly 1,000 graduates are expected to participate, with 708 bachelor’s, 229 master’s and 49 PhD degrees awarded.
Sixteen students will receive more than one bachelor’s degree, while 10 students will be awarded both a master’s and PhD. One student will receive two master’s degrees. For those unable to attend commencement, the ceremony will be streamed live.
This year’s Spring Commencement speaker is U.S. Senator Gary Peters. The Democrat from Oakland County, Michigan is serving his first term in the U.S. Senate. He was elected in 2014 and sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and the Joint Economic Committee. Following his commencement address, he’ll receive an honorary doctor of philosophy degree.
Saturday’s commencement ceremony will be the last led by University President Glenn Mroz, who steps down as president to return to the faculty at the end of next month. Richard J. Koubek, currently executive vice president and provost of Louisiana State University, will become Michigan Tech’s 10th president on July 1.