Purdue’s annual rite of spring: Happy grads cross Elliott stage during spring ceremonies

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The small steps they’ve taken over the past few years culminated for many Purdue University students this weekend (May 13-15). They graduated into the next phases of their lives.

By Monday morning, there were seven commencement ceremonies, each in the Elliott Hall of Music, on campus.

Eligible to participate in the ceremonies were 8,131 students, which included 6,257 undergraduates, 1,180 master’s, 454 Doctor of Philosophy and 240 professional program candidates.

All ceremonies were set for livestream.

Purdue President Mitch Daniels keynoted each of the six weekend ceremonies.

Dr. Deborah W. Knapp, Distinguished Professor in Comparative Oncology and director of Purdue’s Comparative Oncology Program in the College of Veterinary Medicine, was the guest speaker for the Monday morning Graduate School ceremony. She is nationally and internationally recognized for her work in bladder cancer and comparative oncology.

Families and friends celebrate their graduates around Purdue University’s campus following commencement ceremonies Friday (May 13) at Purdue’s Elliott Hall of Music. (Purdue University photo/Rebecca McElhoe) Download image

Three individuals received honorary doctorates during commencement ceremonies. Edmund O. Schweitzer III and Jill Hruby received honorary Doctor of Engineering degrees from the College of Engineering. John Krenicki Jr. received an honorary Doctor of Managment from the School of Management.

Graduating student responders during the ceremonies were Grace Hasler of Columbus, Indiana, from the College of Agriculture; Jace Newell of Maple Grove, Minnesota, from the College of Engineering and the John Martinson Honors College; Tom Appenzeller of West Lafayette, Indiana, from the College of Science; Jack Horoho of Warsaw, Indiana, from the School of Management; Parikshit Pawar of Austin, Texas, from the College of Health and Human Sciences; and Jaqueline Krutsch of Evanston, Illinois, from the College of Education.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked in each of the last four years as one of the 10 Most Innovative universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://purdue.edu/.

Writer: Margaret Mowrer 

Media contact: Matthew Oates, 765-586-7496 (cell), oatesw@purdue.edu, @mo_oates;

Source: Christine Pass, dehahn@purdue.edu