At its 15th Commencement on Sunday, June 12, Oregon State University – Cascades will set a record when it awards 379 bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and graduates the largest class in its history for the third consecutive year. This marks a 20 percent increase in degrees conferred over the previous year.
Campus officials anticipate that more than 2,000 family and friends of graduates will attend the ceremonies at the Les Schwab Amphitheater in Bend. Nearly 270 students plan to participate in the ceremonies.
In total, OSU-Cascades will have awarded more than 3,000 degrees since it was established in 2001.
The commencement event will begin at 12pm. OSU-Cascades Vice President Becky Johnson will preside over the ceremonies.
Steve Amen, executive producer and host of Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Oregon Field Guide, will provide the commencement address at the Oregon State University – Cascades commencement ceremonies. Amen has been with OPB for more than 30 years and helped create the Oregon Field Guide television series, now entering its 28th season. Oregon Field Guide remains one of the highest rated local programs in the Public Broadcasting Service’s nationwide system.
In addition to Johnson and Amen, members of the platform party include Kirk Schueler, representing the OSU Board of Trustees; Marla Hacker, Dean of Academic Programs at OSU-Cascades; and members of the faculty. Brenda McCombs, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at OSU, will represent OSU’s outgoing provost, Sabah Randhawa.
During the commencement event, Johnson will present the OSU-Cascades Distinguished Service Award, an award created to honor individuals, businesses or organizations that have made exceptional contributions to OSU-Cascades, Central Oregon, the State of Oregon, or the world.
She will present the award to community advocate and volunteer, Loren Irving. Irving is also a member of the OSU-Cascades Board of Advisors.
About the Class of 2016
- Of the 376 graduates, bachelor’s degrees will be awarded to 270 and master’s degrees will be awarded to 109.
- 70 percent of the graduates are from Central Oregon. In addition, 24 of Oregon’s 36 counties are represented. Graduates represent 11 other states and two other countries, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia
- The average age of the graduating class is 32; the oldest is 61 and the youngest is 21
- The class includes the first graduates of OSU-Cascades’ recently launched undergraduate degree program in computer science and MFA program in creative writing
- Eight candidates for graduation will be inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, a scholastic honor society. Seniors in the top 10 percent and graduate students who show special ability and are in the top 10 percent of their respective classes are nominated by faculty for the society
The commencement ceremony will include presentations by OSU-Cascades candidate for graduation, Austin Anderson, a student in the Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing from Orem, Utah. Student body president and natural resources major Camara Bedell-Stiles will also present to the graduation class.
The diploma received by each graduate represents an Oregon State University degree, and marks the same achievement and fulfillment of requirements, and carries the same rights, privileges and honors as degrees conferred at the main campus.
To learn more visit http://www.osucascades.edu/commencement.
