Cape mayor will speak at Southeast commencement

Cape Girardeau Mayor Jay Knudtson will deliver the commencement address at Southeast Missouri State University on May 13 and receive an award from the school.

The school will honor the mayor with the Vandiver Show Me State Award, which recognizes contributions to the institution, region and the state by individuals or corporate entities.

The regents in closed session on April 24 voted to present the award to Knudtson. The mayor was re-elected to a second term last month.

"His administration has continued a tradition of cooperation with Southeast Missouri State University for the betterment of the community and the Southeast Missouri region," school president Dr. Ken Dobbins said.

Knudtson will address the 1,105 graduating students at the 2 p.m. ceremony at the Show Me Center.

A record number of students will lead the class of undergraduates with perfect 4.0 grade point averages. The group of 23 includes Alicia Sachse and Timothy Wencewicz, both of Cape Girardeau; Colette Banda and Krista Mouser, both of Jackson; Nicholas Kunz of Marquand, Mo., Emily McDowell of Bertrand, Mo., Hilary Jo Mungle of Patton, Mo., and Kyla Smith of Scott City.

An honors convocation is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at the Show Me Center to recognize 259 undergraduates and 46 graduate students. Dr. Ed Leoni, professor of health, human performance and recreation, will address those students.

Leoni, the 2005 Faculty Merit Award winner, will serve as grand marshal at the commencement ceremony.

Thirteen scholars will be recognized in the graduating class, including Lindsey Baker of Scott City, Rebecca Komorech and Jennifer Markin of Cape Girardeau, and Mungle of Patton.

Students must complete 24 hours of honors course work and maintain a minimum 3.25 grade point average to receive the recognition, school officials said.

Three students will graduate with academic distinction in their field of study, including Baker of Scott City, who is being honored for distinction in the art department.