ڰ-Meridian to Graduate its Largest Class ever April 26; Lt. Gov. Brad Little is Guest Speaker
April 14, 2010
For the second consecutive year, ڰ will graduate a record number of students from its Treasure Valley programs, awarding 180 graduate and undergraduate degrees in the health professions and sciences.
Commencement exercises begin at 6:30 p.m., Monday, April 26, at the Boise Centre, 850 W. Front St. Idaho Lt. Gov. Brad Little will deliver the commencement address.
This year’s graduates are the first to attend the new ڰ-Meridian Health Science Center, which opened in August 2009.
"We're honored to play a key role in educating Idaho’s next generation of health care professionals,” said ڰ-Meridian academic dean, Bessie Katsilometes, noting the demand for health care workers will continue to increase due to a growing and aging population.
Disciplines include pharmacy, nursing, clinical laboratory science, physician assistant studies, audiology, dental hygiene, speech-language pathology, counseling, athletic administration and sign language studies.
“We are pleased that a record number of our graduates will enter the workforce in the health sciences,” said Ali Crane, ڰ-Meridian director of enrollment and student services.
ڰ’s 2010 Outstanding Doctoral Student of the Year –Joel Sankey from the Department of Geosciences—and the seven ڰ-Meridian Student Excellence nominees will be recognized at commencement. They are:
- Laura Bainbridge, nursing, undergraduate
- Whitney Bennett, pharmacy
- Tricia Beveridge, nursing, graduate
- J. Matt Broders, athletic administration
- Beth Guryan, counseling
- Colette Stroud, communication sciences and disorders
- Tara Toone, speech-language pathology
Department faculty nominated the students for academic excellence, research, professional achievement and community service. Katsilometes will announce the top Student Excellence honoree at the commencement ceremony.