Lamar University plans to confer 579 degrees Saturday

Lamar University is scheduled to confer 579 degrees at summer commencement Saturday, Aug. 18, in the Montagne Center. District 3 state Senator Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, will be the keynote speaker. Nichols is a 1968 industrial engineering graduate of Lamar.

The ceremonies will begin at 9:30 a.m. for the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business and Engineering and at 1:30 p.m. for the Colleges of Education and Human Development and Fine Arts and Communication and the Center for General Studies. Graduates hail from nine countries, 18 states outside Texas and 158 cities and towns in Texas.

Lamar is scheduled to award the 579 degrees to 575 graduation candidates – eight for doctorates, 361 for master’s degrees, 201 for bachelor’s degrees and nine for associate degrees. The candidates include 270 who will earn master’s degrees in education as part of Lamar’s academic partnership. Four students will earn dual degrees, including one who will receive a master of science and a bachelor of business administration, both in accounting. Three others will earn dual undergraduate degrees. 

As of Aug. 14, graduation participants numbered 137 in the first ceremony and 193 in the second.