Stacy Hutto
Managing editor
For many seniors the end is near. The commencement ceremony for spring 2013 will be May 11 on Paul Laird Field at 10 a.m.
The oldest student participating in the commencement ceremony was born July 1, 1949. There will also be international students participating in the commencement ceremony. The home counties of international students graduating are Nepal, Ivory Coast, Romania, Benin, Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria Serbia, Brazil and Zaire.
In case of bad weather there will be two ceremonies, divided by degree, in the Bloomer Sullivan Arena. The first ceremony will be from 10-11 a.m. for undergraduates in School of Arts and Sciences and Master of Science, which include occupational safety and health and the master of technology.
The second ceremony will be from 2-3 p.m. for the School of Education and Behavioral Sciences, John Massey School of Business, Master of Arts, which includes Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Teaching, Master of Business Administration, Master of Education, Master of Science, which includes aerospace, and Master of Science, including sports studies.
If the commencement has to be held inside due to the weather, the decision will be made by noon on May 10. It will be posted on the Southeastern website and on Blackboard. Students on the graduation list should check Blackboard periodically in the week leading up to finals, since that is where information will be posted.
There will be a reception for graduates and their families in the Visual and Performing Arts Center from 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. The reception will be held at this time even if the commencement ceremony is held indoors.
During the commencement ceremony, there will be 34 honors graduates. There will be 12 Cum Laude, which is the top six to ten percent, 14 Magna Cum Laude, the top three to five percent, and eight graduating Summa Cum Laude, the top two percent.
According to the Southeastern website, Regent Terry Matlock will be the guest speaker at the commencement ceremony. In addition to serving as chair of the Regional University System of Oklahoma Board of Regents, Matlock is also an alumnus of Southeastern.
Matlock earned his bachelor degree in 1985 and his master degree in 1987, both from Southeastern.
After serving in the House of Representatives, Matlock started working with Choctaw Electric Cooperative in 2002, where he holds the position of the Chief Executive Officer. In 2003 he was selected by then Governor Brad Henry as the Southeastern Area Business Person of the Year.
Commencement rehearsal will be held on May 8 at 3 p.m. Rehearsal will be held at the Bloomer Sullivan Arena. Students who will be participating in commencement are not required to be at the rehearsal, but it is recommended.