NDSU’s spring commencement ceremonies are scheduled for Saturday, May 17, at 10 a.m. in the Fargodome.
According to Rhonda Kitch, associate registrar, 1,253 graduate, professional and undergraduate students have indicated they intend to march in the ceremony, as of May 2. She said a total of 2,068 students are eligible to participate.
“We welcome the largest number of graduate, professional and undergraduates students eligible to participate in our spring commencement ceremony,” Kitch said. “Commencement is a very special day on campus for our students, their families and guests. We look forward to celebrating the academic achievements of our spring 2014 graduating class.”
Amanda “Mandy” Peine, a native of Vermillion, Minn., will give remarks as student representative of the senior class. Peine will receive a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in accounting. Highly active during her years on the NDSU campus, she participated in Saddle and Sirloin Club, Blue Key Honor Society, Panhellenic Council, Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and Accounting Club. Peine also was elected the Saddle and Sirloin Club’s Outstanding Senior, named queen of the 87th Little International Show in 2013, served as co-master of ceremonies for the 85th Little “I” and was co-chair of the 2014 Bison Brevities talent show.
The undergraduate commencement soloist will be April Maertens, who is from Fargo. She will receive a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal music education, with a minor in instrumental music education. Her many student activities include the NDSU Concert Choir, NDSU Madrigal Singers, BisonArts Singers, NDSU Opera and the NDSU chapters of the National Association for Music Education and American Choral Directors Association. In addition, she is president of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity.
The graduate commencement soloist is set to be Elliott Schwab, a native of West Fargo who is receiving a Master of Music degree in vocal performance. A baritone, Schwab earned his bachelor's degree in music from NDSU. During his university career, he participated in the NDSU Concert Choir, NDSU Men’s Ensemble, BisonArts Singers, as well as the NDSU Madrigal Singers – both as a singer and as the Jester in the annual Christmas dinners. Schwab also played an active role in NDSU Opera Theatre, most recently appearing in Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi” and Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Trial by Jury.” Following graduation, he plans to move to New Rockford, N.D., to assume the position of artistic director for the Dakota Prairie Regional Center for the Arts.
Additional information about the NDSU commencement ceremony is available at www.ndsu.edu/commencement/. The ceremony will be streamed live, with an archive video available the week following the ceremony.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.