Award presentations in the afternoon include the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree to Diemer's sister, Dorothy Diemer Hendry, a long-time educator and writer from Huntsville, Ala., and the Outstanding Recent Alumni Award to Roger B. Schupp, assistant professor of performance studies, percussion and jazz studies at Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio. This year's Charno Award winners, considered the top citizens of the senior graduating class, will be honored at both ceremonies. They are Andrea Marie Thompson, a student from Grandview graduating with bachelor's degree in public relations, and W. Jason Frazier, a student from Norborne who is earning a bachelor's degree in graphic arts technology. Recognition will be given at both events to the recipients of Byler Distinguished Faculty Awards, the top award presented annually to outstanding faculty. Award recipients are Jack Landers, professor and program coordinator of construction management in the department of manufacturing and construction, and Marla Selvidge, director and professor at the Center for Religious Studies.
All commencement activities are open to the public.
Individuals may also attend college receptions planned during the day. Several of those events take place in the University Union, which was recently renamed the Ed Elliott University Union by Central's Board of Governors. Rooms 236-240, formerly known as the University Union Ballroom, also were renamed the Sandra Temple Elliott Ballroom in honor of the first lady. The day concludes with U.S. Army ROTC Commissioning ceremonies beginning at 4 p.m. in the Alumni Chapel.