Missouri Gov. Mike Parson to speak at SEMO commencement

For the first time since 2012, a Missouri governor will deliver a commencement address at Southeast Missouri State University.

Gov. Mike Parson will speak to graduating students at the university’s spring commencement May 11.

Parson will deliver the address at the 2 p.m. commencement ceremony. Kevin Dickson, who chairs the management department in the Harrison College of Business and Computing, will address graduating students at the 10 a.m. ceremony.

Both commencement ceremonies will be held at the Show Me Center, the university said in a news release.

Parson will be the fifth governor to serve as commencement speaker at Southeast since 1970, school officials said after issuing the news release.

Gov. John Ashcroft spoke in 1985, the late Gov. Joe Teasdale in 1980 and the late Gov. Warren Hearnes in 1970, officials said.

Jay Nixon delivered the commencement address in May 2012.

At the upcoming spring commencement, school officials said 1,401 students are scheduled to graduate — 1,105 undergraduates, 268 master’s degree candidates and 28 specialist candidates.

According to the release, 393 students will graduate with honors. Of those, 86 will graduate summa cum laude (3.9 to 4.0 grade-point average); 117, magna cum laude (3.75 to 3.89 GPA); 185, cum laude (3.5 to 3.74 GPA); and five with associate-degree honors.

In addition, 28 students, who are graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA and 47 honors scholars will be recognized.

Graduating students in the College of Education, Health and Human Studies and the Harrison College of Business and Computing will participate in the 10 a.m. ceremony.

Graduating students in the colleges of Humanities and Social Sciences; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; and the Holland College of Arts and Media will take part in the 2 p.m. ceremony.

mbliss@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641