Summer commencement at Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia, will be held on Friday, Aug. 4, in Harton Theater with two ceremonies.
The first ceremony is for the School of Graduate Studies, College of Education, and College of Science and Technology. It begins at 6 p.m. The second ceremony will follow at 7:30 p.m. and will be for the College of Business and College of Liberal and Performing Arts.
The speaker for this year’s graduation will be Louis Blanchard, chair of the Board of Trustees at SAU. Blanchard began his 50-year association with SAU in September 1956 as instructor of accounting, reaching the rank of professor in 1974. On July 1, 2001, Blanchard was appointed as the University’s interim president and served in that capacity until Dec. 31, 2001.
Originally from Senatobia, Miss., Blanchard earned his B.B.A. and M.B.A. from the University of Mississippi. He is a certified public accountant.
The Louis J. Blanchard Endowed Scholarship at SAU was established in 1985 by friends and alumni. In 1989, while serving as professor of accounting and chair of the Department of Accounting, Blanchard was selected by his peers as Honor Professor. This honor recognized his outstanding record of excellence, integrity, and leadership as a valuable faculty member. A fully-endowed Louis J. Blanchard Professorship in Accounting was established in 1999. He received the distinguished title of Professor Emeritus in May 2001.
Blanchard served in the Air Force from 1946-50. He is married to the former Martha Elaine Jones of Lambert, Miss. The Blanchards have two daughters, Gail Michels and family of Kansas City, Mo., and Alice Thomas and family of Gaithersburg, Md. Blanchard is a member of Central Baptist Church in Magnolia and is a member of the Magnolia Lions Club.
The SAU Office of Alumni Relations will sponsor a reception for all graduates from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Donald W. Reynolds Campus and Community Center.
For more information regarding commencement exercises at SAU, call the Office of the Registrar at 870-235-4031.
