It’s finally here! Commencement 2012 is upon us, and 785 graduating Hatters will receive their degrees during two separate ceremonies Saturday, May 12. The ceremony for students earning degrees through the School of Business Administration and School of Music will be at 9 a.m., and the ceremony for students in the College of Arts & Sciences will be at 2 p.m., both in the Edmunds Center. Receptions for the graduates and their families will follow both ceremonies in the Hollis Center.

The following Commencement events are scheduled for Friday, May 11:  Five graduating seniors will be commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army in a ceremony from 1-2 p.m., in Lee Chapel. All parents, special campus guests, faculty, staff and students are invited to attend the commissioning of Kristina Diaz, Arminda Lampitelli, Tabitha Marchbanks, Bryan McFadden and Tracy Ross. The Academic Awards Convocation will be held in Lee Chapel, beginning at 3 p.m. A reception will follow at 4:30 p.m., outside in the Quad/Palm Court. Then the Baccalaureate service will begin at 7 p.m., also in Lee Chapel.

On Saturday, May 12, the doors to the Edmunds Center will open one hour prior to each ceremony. The Commencement ceremony for the School of Business Administration and School of Music, begins at 9 a.m. (Doors open at 8 a.m.). A reception is scheduled immediately following in the Hollis Center.

The Commencement ceremony for the College of Arts & Sciences will begin at 2 p.m. (Doors open at 1 p.m.) A reception is scheduled immediately following in the Hollis Center.

Graduates must be in the Hollis Center/Rinker Field House with cap and gown one hour before their designated Commencement ceremony. Dress should be in accordance with the dignity of the occasion.

Tickets are not required to attend. For a Commencement FAQ and information on special needs seating, parking, photography, diplomas, the faculty schedule, directions and local accommodations, visit the Commencement website. Please note that the ceremonies will not be videotaped, but free live webcast will be available at www.gohatters.com for those who are unable to attend.

Stetson President Wendy B. Libby will give the “charge” at both ceremonies – a tradition where the president places a duty and responsibility upon the graduates. She will confer the degrees for 281 students who will receive graduate degrees and 504 undergraduates who will receive bachelor’s degrees. Spring Commencement includes all graduates who completed degree requirements in July 2011, December 2011 and May 2012.

Student speakers at the ceremonies are Jillian Masucci of Port Orange, Fla., representing the School of Business Administration; Sandra Perry of Apopka, Fla., representing the School of Music; and Alex Sanchez of Deltona, Fla., and Mariamne “Amne” Harrington of Orlando, Fla., representing the College of Arts & Sciences.

Commencement for the Stetson University College of Law will also be May 12, in Gulfport, with Lt. Cmdr. Nieva M.S. Brock, who serves as staff judge advocate and ethics counselor to the director of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), presenting the commencement address. The College of Law has 317 graduates this spring.

Read the full Commencement 2012 news release online.

Other activities on the DeLand campus throughout May include:

Restorative Stretch, sponsored by Campus Life and Student Success, 1-1:30 p.m., Fridays, beginning May 11. Take a mid-day half-hour break, Hollis Dance Room.

Young Singers: The Community School of the Arts will present its Young Singers Concert on Saturday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m. in Lee Chapel, featuring pieces from Fiddler on the Roof and music by Mahler, Bach and Vivaldi, as well as a traditional Welsh folk song.

Inclusive Excellence in Teaching: Stetson’s Diversity Council Summer Workshop, Monday, May 14, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., LBC Boardroom 213. As part of our efforts to actively and intentionally engage diversity and inclusive excellence in the curriculum at Stetson University, the Diversity Council and the office of the Associate Provost for Faculty Development are co-sponsoring this, our first annual summer symposium. Further information, contact Dr. Jamil Khader ([email protected]), co-chair, Diversity Council.

STEM Service Learning Day Institute – Monday and Tuesday, May 14 and 15, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Stetson is hosting a course redesign institute titled, “Building Capacity for Incorporating Academic Service-Learning in STEM Course Development” to include community engaged learning as a major component of the course. Contact Savannah-Jane Griffin ([email protected]) for more information.

Sousa Concert: The all adult Southern Winds Symphonic Concert Band, will present patriotic marches and musical selections for an early Memorial Day celebration, Saturday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Lee Chapel. No admission fee. Donations will be accepted at the door.

Inspirare, a women’s choir: Organized by Dr. Ann Small of the School of Music, Inspirare will present its second concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 24, in Lee Chapel. Women singers from across Volusia County, as well as Stetson faculty and staff, have joined together to participate in this project. Inspirare is part of the Stetson Community School of the Arts. Donations ($20 suggested) will be accepted at the door.

Go Hatters: Baseball has a three-day home series against Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) starting Thursday, May 17, at downtown Melching Field. The A-Sun Baseball Tournament will be held in DeLand May 23-27. Come out and support your Hatters! Visit www.GoHatters.com for complete Athletics news.

For a comprehensive listing of what’s happening on campus, visit the University Calendar.

The Stetson Today Team