SOU's 90th Commencement to Take Place Saturday
(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University will confer degrees on approximately 1,000 new graduates at its 90th Commencement ceremony Saturday at Raider Stadium on the University’s main campus in Ashland. The processional will begin at 9:45 a.m. with the ceremony following immediately thereafter.
Featured speakers at this year’s ceremony include SOU President Dr. Roy Saigo and Bill Thorndike, who is speaking on behalf of the SOU board of trustees.
This year’s Commencement address will be given by Dr. Harry “Doc” Kloor. Dr. Kloor is the first—and only—person to have earned two Ph.D. degrees simultaneously, having earned them in Physics and Chemistry at the same time from Purdue University. He is also an alumnus of SOU. Dr. Kloor is a writer, scientist, educator, researcher, inventor, editor, producer, national technology policy advisor, and chief technology officer.
Associated Students of Southern Oregon University President Torii Uyehara, who is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in business administration, has been selected as the student speaker.
SOU students Adriana Alexander and Benjamin Comer will receive the Dankook Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Students. This award commemorates more than thirty years of friendship between SOU and Dankook University in Seoul, South Korea. Each year at Commencement, SOU honors its outstanding female and male graduates with this award. The criteria used to select the Dankook Award recipients are: demonstration of scholarship, contributions to campus life by playing a leadership role, and evidence of citizenship and character.
Alexander will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a 4.0 GPA. Comer will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a 4.0 GPA.
Nicole Doran will be honored during the ceremony with the Universidad de Guanajuato Award for Outstanding Graduate Student. Doran graduates with a master in management and a 4.0 GPA.
Gates to Raider Stadium open at 8 a.m. the morning of Commencement, and seating is available on a first come, first served basis. Free parking is available in all parking lots on the SOU campus throughout the day. The ceremony will be broadcast live on RVTV and archived for later viewing.
More information on SOU Commencement ceremony is available online at www.sou.edu/commencement.
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University provides outstanding student experiences, valued degrees, and successful graduates. SOU is known for excellence in faculty, intellectual creativity and rigor, quality and innovation in connected learning programs, and the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon—and one of the first in the nation—to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power, and it is the first university in the nation to balance 100% of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.