Lamar University plans to confer 1,145 degrees Saturday

Lamar University is scheduled to confer 1,145 degrees during winter commencement ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 17, in the Montagne Center. State Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, will address graduates in both ceremonies – at 9:30 a.m. for the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business and Engineering and at 1:30 p.m. for the Colleges of Education and Human Development and Fine Arts and Communication and Center for General Studies.

Birdwell, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, is a 1984 criminal justice graduate of Lamar University who earned the Purple Heart and Legion of Merit after suffering severe burns during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the Pentagon.

December graduates hail from 10 countries, 24 states outside Texas and 246 cities and towns in Texas.  Lamar is scheduled to confer one doctorate, in deaf studies/deaf education, in addition to 649 master’s degrees, 492 of them in education through Lamar’s Academic Partnership; 491 bachelor’s degrees; and four associate degrees. Five students receiving bachelor’s degrees will earn two degrees each.

As of Dec. 15, 748 graduates were scheduled to participate in the two ceremonies – 388 in the morning and 360 in the afternoon.

President James Simmons will announce recipients of  the Plummer Awards, honoring the highest-ranking graduates in the class, and also recognize other honors graduates.