BEMIDJI, Minn. (April 30, 2010) — More than 800 students will receive undergraduate and graduate degrees from Bemidji State University during the University’s 91st commencement exercise, to be held Friday, May 7.

Bemidji State President Dr. Jon E. Quistgaard will preside over the commencement ceremony, which will begin at 2 p.m. in the John Glas Fieldhouse, located at the corner of 19th Street and Bemidji Avenue. It will be Quistgaard’s final commencement ceremony as president of the University; last fall, he announced his retirement after 30 years at Bemidji State.

Commencement ceremonies at Bemidji State University are free and open to the public; no tickets are required. Seating in the fieldhouse is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

In addition, eight faculty members with a combined total of 210 years of service to the University of will be rewarded with emeriti status during the ceremony.

Pre-Commencement Brunch
Commencement activities on campus begin with a pre-commencement bruch, where each college and department at the University will host graduates and their families from 10 a.m. to noon. The Beaux Arts Ballroom in the upper union will host physical education, health & sport; professional education; and accounting and business majors. Other graduates will meet in the Lower Union. College of Arts and Sciences graduates will be in the Lakeside North and Lower Lakeside-East areas, with nursing and psychology grads in the Scandanavian Room. Criminal justice and social work graduates will meet in the Viking Room. Mass communication will meet in the upper area of the Lakeside Lounge, while technological studies will be in the Crying Wolf Room.

Handicapped parking will be available along Birchmont Drive and wheelchair access will be provide through the upper level of the Hobson Memorial Union. Guides will be available to provide assistance. No tickets are required for access to the brunch.

Commencement Walk
Commencement ceremonies will begin at 1:25 p.m. when Bemidji State faculty and staff will lead the traditional Commencement Walk from Bangsberg Hall across campus to the Gillett Recreation & Fitness Center. When the end of the faculty and staff line reaches Deputy Hall, the students will join for the march across campus.

In the event of inclement weather, students will gather in the Gillett Center at 1:15 p.m.

For more information on commencement ceremonies at Bemidji State University, please contact the Records Office, located in Deputy Hall on the Bemidji State campus, at (218) 755-2020.

Complete information about commencement activities, including area lodging options, directions and maps, is available at http://www.bemidjistate.edu/commencement.