Notable Alumni to Address Spring Graduates

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, will hold 11 commencement ceremonies May 16-18, welcoming more than 5,300 graduates into its alumni family.

"Commencement is not just a ceremony but a joyous celebration that marks both the culmination of one educational journey and the beginning of the next phase of life for our graduates," said Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor John Zomchick. "This happy occasion brings together our hard-working students and their proud friends and families to acknowledge all that they have learned and accomplished during their time on the campus. It is gratifying and exciting to recognize with all assembled the graduates as they cross the stage and join the Volunteer family as proud Rocky Top alumni. Wherever their life journeys take them next, we know that they will bear the torch of the University of Tennessee."

This spring, the university will award approximately 5,455 degrees: 4,130 undergraduate degrees and 1,115 graduate degrees. UT will also grant 120 law degrees, 90 veterinary medicine degrees and 150 graduate certificates. Ceremonies for each academic college will take place in Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center, with one hooding ceremony for those receiving graduate and professional degrees and certificates. Additionally, 13 Air Force ROTC cadets and 28 Army ROTC cadets will be commissioned, recognizing their transition from student to military officer. The Army ROTC commissioning ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 17, in James R. Cox Auditorium, Alumni Memorial Building. The Air Force ROTC commissioning ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 17, in Room 210, Alumni Memorial Building.

Dates and times for each ceremony are available on the commencement website. All ceremonies will be webcast live for those who are unable to attend in person.

Commencement Speakers

This year's commencement speakers include prominent alumni and business leaders in addition to members of the graduating class:

• Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony: General James J. Mingus, vice chief of staff of the Army
• College of Architecture and Design: Barry Alan Yoakum ('78), co-founder and CEO of Archimania
• College of Arts and Sciences: Kelly Rodney Arnold ('00), medical director of Clínica Médicos
• College of Communication and Information: Chris Grabenstein ('77), New York Times bestselling author
• College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences: Brian Lee ('92), director of guest relations at Blackberry Farm
• College of Law: Ronald Young, graduating student, and Camille R. McMullen ('96), presiding judge for Tennessee's Court of Criminal Appeals
• College of Nursing: Alyssa Varness, graduating student
• College of Social Work: Jenna Spurlock and Caitlin Steele, graduating students
• College of Veterinary Medicine: Jeffrey Biskup, assistant professor of small animal surgery at Oregon State University's Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine and former UT faculty member
• Haslam College of Business: Jeff Abbott ('93), chief executive officer of Ivanti
• Herbert College of Agriculture: Joe Baker ('01), founder of Ole Smoky Distillery
• Tickle College of Engineering: Misty Mayes ('88), founder and CEO of Management Solutions

Parking and Security Information

Graduates and their guests can park free of charge in university student parking areas throughout campus but should avoid parking in staff parking areas. The G10 garage next to the arena will have limited entry points. Guests are strongly encouraged to enter and exit the G10 garage from Neyland Drive. Visit the UT Parking and Transit website for details.

The university's clear bag policy will be enforced. Guests will be screened on entry by event security staff. Binoculars, cameras and video cameras are permissible without cases. Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is prohibited in and on all university property, including in private vehicles parked or in operation on university property.

For more information on which items are allowed and prohibited in the stadium as well as security policies, visit the commencement website.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Erica Estep (865-974-2225, [email protected])

Maggie Palmer (865-974-3993, [email protected])