DSU Spring Commencement Ceremony is Saturday

Dakota State University will hold its Spring Commencement ceremony on Saturday morning at the DSU Fieldhouse.  The ceremony will start at 10:30 Saturday morning, with a Hooding Ceremony for graduate students taking place at 9:00 a.m. at the Dakota Prairie Playhouse.  

The 384 students who will graduate this Saturday are receiving Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. degrees, as well as certificates. Jazlynn Pederson, an Elementary Education major from Brookings, S.D., will speak on behalf of the graduates.

Dr David Kenley, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, is the featured commencement speaker.  His remarks are titled “Ticket to Ride”, and will use a public bus ride as a metaphor for life.  Kenley’s life and successful career in higher education have included achievements in program innovation, cross-cultural engagement, grant writing, faculty development, strategic planning, online instruction, and many other critical areas of higher education. Kenley has collaborated with three Nobel Peace Prize winners and several other influential leaders worldwide. Fluent in Chinese, he is committed to international understanding. He has traveled widely across five continents; he has led over a dozen study abroad programs in seven countries. Since joining DSU three years ago, he has supported faculty scholarship, promoted high quality educational experiences, and enhanced student graduation rates, all while remaining focused on DSU’s strategic plan.

Also on Saturday, Alumnus Tom Nielsen, the Associate Director of Alumni and External Engagement, will induct the new graduates into the Alumni Association. 

Limited tickets are available and required for general admission bleacher seating for guests; overflow seating is available in the Dakota Prairie Playhouse.

For those unable to attend in person, you can livestream the hooding ceremony and the commencement ceremony. More information is available at dsu.edu.