Courtesy photo
More than 4,500 students will don a cap and gown this month as part of the University of Arkansas’ 2019 spring commencement ceremonies.
The ceremonies, scheduled for May 10-11, will include both graduate and undergraduate students, and will take place in Bud Walton Arena, Barnhill Arena, and the Faulkner Performing Arts Center.
UA Law School Commencement will take place the following weekend on May 18 at the Fayetteville Town Center.
Of the graduates, 3,551 are undergraduate students, 844 are graduate students, and 109 will walk at the School of Law ceremony on May 18. UA officials said the number of students attending Spring Commencement has grown by 67 percent since 2012 when the Fall Commencement ceremony was re-instated.
There will be free parking on campus for attendees in any lot labeled unrestricted. Here’s a map of available parking, including parking reserved for people with disabilities.
Attendees will be required to pass through a security checkpoint. UA officials say cameras and handbags will be inspected at the door, and are urging attendees to allow extra time for that process. Baggage, balloons, wrapped packages, backpacks, strollers and noise-makers are prohibited.
All ceremonies will be available to livestream via the UA’s Youtube Channel.
The full spring 2018 University of Arkansas commencement schedule is below. For more information, visit the UA’s commencement website.
Friday, May 10
J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Bud Walton Arena
Speaker: Anna Frances, a senior majoring in communication and minoring in social work.
Saturday, May 12
All University Commencement
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Location: Bud Walton Arena
Speaker: W. “Chris” Hinton-Lee, retired after 37-year career in the Army Corps of Engineers, the first African Ameican woman to graduate with a degree in architecture from UA
Honorary degree recipients: Al Bell and W. “Chris” Hinton-Lee
College of Engineering
Time: 12 p.m.
Location: Barnhill Arena
Speaker: Pam McGinnis, president, global marketing, at Phillips 66
Sam M. Walton College of Business
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Bud Walton Arena
Students graduating: 874
Speaker: John Furner, president and CEO of Sam’s Club
Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Faulkner Performing Arts Center
Speaker: Billy Fleming, B.L.A.’11; Wilks Family Director for the Ian L. McHarg Center at the University of Pennsylvania School of Design
Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: Barnhill Arena
Speakers: Outstanding Alumnus, Arthur Neal, M.S. agricultural economics, ’99; deputy administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Federal Grain Inspecting Service, which is under the Agricultural Marketing Service.. Outstanding Young Alumna, Mandy Kordsmeier, B.S.H.E.S. apparel merchandising and product development,’08; vice president of business development for national accounts for U.S. manufacturer Orian Rugs.
College of Education and Health Professions
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Bud Walton Arena
Speaker: Dominique Scott, B.S.B.A. marketing ’15; professional athlete; holds six track records at the U of A. Founded The Dom Squad, an educational running program targeting middle school girls and the local initiative, “NWA Runners Unite.”
Saturday, May 18
School of Law
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Fayetteville Town Center
Speaker: Regina Hopper, Emmy Award-winning former network news correspondent, is currently senior vice president of global public policy for GRIDSMART Technologies.
