SRU hosting four 2024 commencement ceremonies, May 3-4

More than 1,600 graduates are eligible to be recognized at Slippery Rock University’s 2024 spring commencement ceremonies, May 3-4, at the Morrow Field House.

April 29, 2024

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — Slippery Rock University will conduct its 2024 spring commencement ceremonies, May 3-4, at the Morrow Field House. More than 1,600 students are eligible to be recognized as graduates in the following ceremonies:

• 6 p.m., May 3, graduate studies.
• 9 a.m., May 4, College of Engineering and Science and College of Health Professions.
• 12 p.m., May 4, College of Business.
• 3 p.m., May 4, College of Education, College of Liberal Arts and Rock Life.

Electronic tickets are required for entry and each graduate will be provided up to four guest tickets. All ceremonies will be livestreamed on www.sru.edu for those friends and family members without a ticket, unable to attend in person, or who prefer to watch the ceremony online. Additionally, there will be livestream viewing locations for guests without tickets at the Russell Wright Alumni House on May 3 and at the Smith Student Center Theater and the Advanced Technology Science Auditorium on May 4.

There will be a different commencement speaker for each ceremony. They are:

• 6 p.m., May 3: Cheryle Campbell, '67, retired director, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Pittsburgh Field Office.
• 9 a.m., May 4: Jonathan Bailey, '96, vice president of operations, UPMC Northwest.
• Noon, May 4: Jack Cohen, president, Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau. 
• 3 p.m., May 4: Roxanne Dunn, '20, 2024 NCAA Inspiration Award Winner.

Larry McCarthy, assistant professor of accounting, economics and finance, will serve as grand marshal and will open the ceremonies. SRU President Karen Riley will provide remarks and confer the degrees. There will also be greetings from members of the SRU council of trustees, as well as a welcome from Michael Zody, '88, president of the SRU Alumni Association.

Michael Zieg, provost and vice president for academic affairs, will present candidates for degrees, as well as Dan Bauer, dean, College of Liberal Arts; Nicole Dafoe, dean, College of Engineering and Science; Keith Dills, dean, College of Education; Christina Karshin, dean, College of Health Professions; and Lawrence Shao, dean, College of Business, for their respective colleges.

Student marshals and University flag bearers, selected by their deans or provost, will hold either their respective college flag or the SRU flag for the ceremonies' processionals.

The following graduating students will be University flag bearers:

• Vale Woodard, a graduate student majoring in athletic training from Tacoma, Washington (6 p.m., May 3).
• Jesse Kaufman, a psychology major from Jeannette (9 a.m., May 4).
• Sydney Rezzetano, a dual finance and economics major from McConnellsburg (noon, May 4).
• Sarah Leslie, a dance major from Butler (3 p.m., May 4).

The following graduating students will be student marshals:

• Ryan Bosch, a graduate student majoring in secondary education-history from Slippery Rock (graduate studies).
• Kelli Galbraith, a mathematics major from Gibsonia (College of Engineering and Science).
• Stephanie Keelon, a dual early childhood/special education and modern languages and cultures major from Canonsburg (College of Education).
• Alexis Kovach, a marketing major from Broadview Heights, Ohio (College of Business).
• Gweneth Lillycrop, an acting major from Westminster, Maryland (College of Liberal Arts).
• Madison Moore, an exercise science major from Mayport (College of Health Professions).

Fourteen cadets from the U.S. Army ROTC program will also be recognized for their commissioning as officers with the rank of second lieutenant at their respective colleges' ceremonies. They will be officially commissioned and take their oaths at a private ceremony on campus, May 3. The cadets include:

• Paul Budi, a homeland security major from Medina, Ohio, who will be assigned to active duty in the aviation branch.
• Nicholas Gorton, an interdisciplinary programs major from Warren, who will be assigned to the U.S. Army Reserves in the engineering branch.
• Allison Guy, an interdisciplinary programs major from Tazewell, Tennessee, who will be assigned to active duty in the field artillery branch.
• Andrew Koley, a homeland security major from Chester, Maryland, who will be assigned to the U.S. Army National Guard in the military intelligence branch.
• Reese Larson, a homeland security major from Saegertown, who will be assigned to active duty in the infantry branch, followed by military intelligence.
• Nathan Maggi, an information systems major from McKees Rocks, who will be assigned to active duty in the signal corps.
• Angelene Piper, a recreational therapy major from Latrobe, who will be assigned to the U.S. Army National Guard in the transportation branch.
• Nathanial Richwine, a finance major from Enola, who will be assigned to the U.S. Army National Guard in the quartermaster branch.
• Johnathan Ritsick, an environmental geoscience major from Penfield, who will be assigned to the U.S. Army National Guard in the aviation branch as a medivac pilot.
• Gage Saylor, a criminology-criminal justice major from Johnstown, who will be assigned to active duty in the military intelligence branch.
• Jacob Shrader, an information systems major from Latrobe, who will be assigned to active duty in the ordinance corps for explosive ordnance disposal.
• Ryan Sproat, a homeland security major from Prospect, who will be assigned to active duty in the engineering branch.
• Elijah Stewart, a biology major from Franklin, who will be assigned to the U.S. Army National Guard in the infantry branch.
• Julia Watson, a management major from Centerville, who will be assigned to active duty in the ordinance corps.

Additional information is available on the University's commencement webpage, by calling 724.738.2849 or by emailing the Commencement Office at commencementoffice@sru.edu.

MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 |  justin.zackal@sru.edu