At its 12th Commencement on Sunday, June 16, 2013, Oregon State University - Cascades will draw a crowd of more than 1,500 family and friends of graduates to the Les Schwab Amphitheater in Bend and will grant Oregon State University degrees to 166 students planning to attend the ceremony. In total, Oregon State University degrees will be conferred to 241 graduates.
This marks the first year that each member of the graduating class at OSU-Cascades will receive an OSU degree. Degree programs formerly offered by other institutions at the campus transitioned to OSU this year, making the campus fully OSU. The diploma received by each graduate represents an Oregon State University degree and marks the same achievement and fulfillment of requirements, and carries the same rights, privileges and honors as degrees conferred at the main campus.
In total, OSU-Cascades will have awarded more than 2,100 degrees since it was established in 2001.
The commencement event begins at 12:00 p.m. OSU-Cascades Vice President Becky Johnson will preside over the ceremonies and OSU President Ed Ray will deliver a welcome address.
Cylvia Hayes, First Lady of the State of Oregon, will deliver the keynote address. A champion of sustainability, Hayes is the founder and chief executive of 3EStrategies, based in Bend. She was named a Top 40 under 40 by Cascades Business News in 2006.
In addition to Johnson and Hayes, members of the platform party include Farbodd Gajifard, a student at OSU in Corvallis representing the Oregon University System; Oran Teater, chair of the OSU-Cascades Advisory Board; Marla Hacker, Dean of Academic Affairs at OSU-Cascades; OSU's Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Becky Warner; and members of the OSU-Cascades faculty.
Distinguished Service Award
During the event, OSU-Cascades will present the campus' third annual Distinguished Service Award, an award created to honor individuals, businesses or organizations that have made exceptional contributions to OSU-Cascades, Central Oregon, the State of Oregon, or the world.
The award will be presented to Oran Teater, a 42-year resident of Bend and longtime community leader. Teater has served as a volunteer and in public service, as Mayor of the City of Bend and as a Bend City Council member. He is known for his support of non-profit causes and for tackling complex community issues. In his four-years as chair of the OSU-Cascades advisory board, his service has furthered campus expansion efforts immeasurably. Teater is an investment advisor and branch manager with Raymond James Financial Services in Bend.
About the Class of 2013
Of the 241 graduates, bachelor's degrees will be awarded to 185, and 55 graduates will receive master's degrees. One student will receive a doctorate. In addition, 9 students will receive certificates towards continuing education in teaching.
More than 70 percent of the graduates are from Central Oregon. In addition, 19 of Oregon's 36 counties are represented. Graduates represent 12 other states. The average age of the graduating class is 32; the oldest is 61 and the youngest is 20.
The commencement ceremony will include presentations by OSU-Cascades candidate for graduation, Freeman York, an energy systems engineering major from Prineville, and from student body president, Rachel Mayhill.
To learn more visit http://www.osucascades.edu/commencement.