High schools, colleges set for commencement exercises

Graduation commencement exercises will kick off this week for this year’s graduates of area colleges, universities and high schools.

Henderson State University’s spring commencement ceremonies will begin at 9 a.m. Friday in the Wells Center gymnasium for the School of Business and Teachers College, Henderson. The ceremony for the Matt Locke Ellis College of Arts and Sciences will follow at noon.

Faculty charges will be presented by Lonnie Jackson, assistant professor of management, and Catherine Leach, associate professor of computer science. Student responses will be given by Jessie Jacoby, a management major from Gilmer, Texas, and Will Blair, a mathematics major from Amity.

The candidates for graduation will be presented by Steve Adkison, provost and vice president for academic affairs; Kenneth Taylor, vice provost and dean, graduate school; Celya Taylor, dean, Teachers College; Marc Miller, dean, School of Business; and John Hardee, dean, Ellis College. Henderson President Glen Jones will confer the degrees, and Greg Gibson, assistant professor of English, will be the official announcer.

Ouachita Baptist University will hold its 130th spring commencement exercises on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. on the front lawn of the university’s historic Cone-Bottoms Hall. The ceremony will honor 293 graduates.

Ben Sells, Ouachita president, will preside over the annual commencement exercises. Ray Granade, director of library services and professor of history, and Mike Reynolds, professor of kinesiology and leisure studies, will serve as commencement marshals. Honorary marshals are Joe Jeffers, professor emeritus of chemistry, and Julia Jones, assistant professor emerita of Spanish.

The ceremony will include an invocation by senior class President Jodie Webb, an elementary education major from Arlington, Tenn. Scripture reading will be led by three students from the Pruet School of Christian Studies — Mikala Butler, a Christian studies/Christian missions and sociology double major from Paragould; Libby Hilliard, a biblical languages major from Van Buren; and Emma Riley, a Christian studies/ Christian ministries and biblical studies double major from Fort Smith.

Stan Poole, vice president for academic affairs, will introduce the graduates. Danny Hays, dean of the Pruet School of Christian Studies, will lead a responsive reading and Jay Heflin, chair of the board of trustees, will deliver the prayer of dedication.

The commencement exercises will be livestreamed at https://livestream.com/obu and a video of the ceremony will be posted on the university website following the service.

National Park College will host spring 2017 commencement Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in Bank of the Ozarks Arena for students who have successfully completed the requirements for graduation. More than 400 students applied for graduation.

The Hot Springs Concert Band will perform the processional and the national anthem. The Hot Springs World Class High School Navy JROTC color guard will present the presentation of colors. the Rev. Gregory Nettles, senior pastor of Visitors Chapel AME church will give the invocation.

The college will announce the Thomas and Rachel Spencer Spirit of NPC Award and the Academic All-Star Award during the ceremony. NPC President John Hogan will deliver the graduation remarks and the NPC Choral Department will provide special music.

The College of the Ouachitas’ commencement is scheduled for May 17 at 6:30 p.m. in Bank of the Ozarks Arena.

High school graduation ceremonies scheduled this month:

• Fountain Lake Charter High School will confer degrees Friday in Bank of the Ozarks Arena beginning at 7 p.m.

• Mountain Pine High School will hold commencement May

15 in Bank of the Ozarks Arena at 7 p.m.

• Graduation for Centerpoint High School will be held at 7:30 p.m. on May 18 at Knight Stadium, if weather permits. The ceremony will be moved into the gymnasium in the event of inclement weather.

• The 130th annual commencement program for Hot Springs World Class High School will be held May 18 at 7:30 p.m. in Bank of the Ozarks Arena.

• Bismarck High School’s graduation ceremony will be held May 19 at 7 p.m. in Ouachita Baptist University’s Jones Performing Arts Center.

• Magnet Cove High School’s graduation is scheduled for 7 p.m. on May 19 in the gymnasium.

• Lake Hamilton High School will host its graduation ceremony on May 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Bank of the Ozarks Arena.

• Jessieville High School’s commencement ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. on May 20 in Bank of the Ozarks Arena.

• Graduation for Lakeside High School is scheduled for

3 p.m. May 21 in Bank of the Ozarks Arena.

• Cutter Morning Star High School’s graduation will be held May 25 at 7 p.m. in Bank of the Ozarks Arena.

• The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts will hold commencement May 27 at 2 p.m. in Horner Hall at the Hot Springs Convention Center.