Northern Kentucky University will honor more than 2,000 graduates in two ceremonies at its 53rd commencement on May 10.
Students from the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Informatics and College of Education will graduate in the morning, while the afternoon ceremony will graduate in the afternoon.
Kenneth Harper and Oakley Farris will receive honorary doctorates of education at the ceremonies.
Harper played a key role in founding Northern Kentucky State College, later Northern Kentucky University, during his time in office under Governor Louie B. Nunn’s administration. In addition, Harper served multiple terms in the Northern Kentucky House of Representatives.
Farris established various campus spaces, programs and scholarships named in his honor that have provided valuable resources to NKU students and faculty, offering venues for academic, social and professional development.
The commencement speaker is Sandra G. Oñate Muñoz, a Cincinnati resident originally for Guadalajara, Mexico that is graduating as magna cum laude with a Master of Public Administration and a certificate in nonprofit management.
Manogya Aryal will receive the President’s Award, which is presented to a senior student who has greatly contributed to the development of a strong sense of community at NKU through efforts to break down barriers of discrimination, increase international awareness, further interaction between traditional and nontraditional students, promote diversity, or improve handicap access and awareness.