WSU to hold 2017 fall commencement ceremony Dec. 17; Pelton to receive honorary doctorate
All graduates will walk across the stage and be individually recognized. Doctoral candidates will be hooded at the ceremony.
Wichita State's fall commencement ceremony in Charles Koch Arena will be available via webcast. To view the ceremony, go to www.wichita.edu/commencement and click on "Live Commencement Streaming." The site will go live at about 2:25 p.m. Dec. 17.
Security procedures will be implemented
To ensure the safety of everyone attending commencement, the following security procedures are being implemented:
Everyone attending, assisting or participating in commencement will be required to be screened and pass through metal detectors as they enter the arena. Koch Arena will open at 1 p.m. We recommend you arrive early to allow sufficient time to get through security.
Please note the following items are prohibited:
- Outside food and drink
- Weapons not allowed by law
- Noisemakers
- Pocket and box knives
- Alcohol and drugs
Wichita State staff reserves the right to prohibit any items deemed inappropriate.
Lee Pelton to receive honorary doctorate
Lee Pelton will receive an honorary doctorate from Wichita State. Pelton, a native of Wichita and the son of a police department manager and a homemaker, earned a bachelor's degree at WSU in 1973 and a Ph.D. in English literature from Harvard University.
Teaching positions at Harvard were followed by positions as dean at Colgate University, then Dartmouth College. Pelton went on to become president of Willamette University at the age of 46, where he served for 13 years before becoming the 12th president of Emerson College in Boston.
Pelton's scholarship and leadership are valued by the many organizations in which he is active and is reflected in the distinguished awards bestowed upon him. An inspirational speaker as well as a leader, Pelton is an influential voice on important topics such as education, civic engagement, communication and cultural diversity.
In nominating Pelton for the honor to the Kansas Board of Regents, WSU President John Bardo said, "His outstanding achievements and visionary leadership make him an excellent candidate for this award."
Pelton will return to campus to receive the 2017 WSU Alumni Achievement Award in April 2018.
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Contact: Jody Hall, assistant director and commencement officer, Office for Workforce, Professional & Community Education, 316-978-3258 or jody.hall@wichita.edu.