Southern Arkansas University is scheduled to award more than 360 degrees at the May 3, 2013, spring commencement ceremonies.
The ceremony for the nursing candidates is scheduled for 2 p.m. in the Reynolds Center Grand Hall, to be followed at 4 p.m. by the School of Graduate Studies graduation ceremony. Finally, at 7 p.m. the University Mall area will be full of guests as the bells chime and faculty lead the more than 290 undergraduate and associate degree candidates into their outdoor ceremony. Graduates from the four colleges at SAU – Business, Education, Liberal and Performing Arts and Science and Technology – will be recognized for their achievements.
Per tradition, the recently appointed Honor Professor Steven Ochs will lead the processional to initiate the undergraduate ceremony. Ochs is nationally recognized as a fine artist within the decorative concrete industry, but is known around campus for challenging students year after year and for being passionate about student success. He teaches ceramics, 3-D design, both basic and advanced digital photography.
Scheduled to give the commencement address is the Edgar Owen Lee, SAU alum, a team leader at Raytheon Missile Corporation, and chair of the SAU Board of Trustees. Lee was born in in Magnolia and graduated from Waldo High School in 1980. He earned a B.B.A. in Business at SAU in 1984. Edgar was an all-state basketball player for three years at Waldo and played for Coach Monroe Ingram at SAU. He served three years in the United States Army before being employed by Brown and Williamson, where he was awarded territory sales manager of the year. He had responsibility for southwest Arkansas for 10 years prior to starting at Raytheon. He is married to Gloretta Lee and they are the proud parents of two sons, Ethan and Evyn Lee. They reside in Chidester, Ark. He is an alderman for the city of Chidester and he and his family attend the Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church.
The SAU Alumni Association is hosting a reception from 4:30 – 6:45 p.m. in the Reynolds Center Blue and Gold Cafeteria. All graduates, their guests, faculty, staff and alumni are welcome to refreshments and hors d’oeuvres.
