The Class of 2012 will be honored during commencement exercises at the University of Minnesota, Crookston on Saturday, May 5. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m. in Lysaker Gymnasium when some 200 students, including some 34 international students representing 14 countries and more than 20 online students, will participate in the largest commencement exercises in campus history. A reception in the Northern Lights Lounge, Sargeant Student Center, will precede the commencement ceremony from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The public is welcome to attend both events; no tickets are required.
At 2 p.m., the formal procession of faculty, candidates for degrees, and platform guests will begin from the Sargeant Student Center to the gymnasium led by Mace Bearer William Peterson, professor in the Math, Science, and Technology Department. The procession also includes Faculty Marshal W. Daniel Svedarsky, professor and director of the Center for Sustainability on the Crookston campus.
Bringing greetings from the University of Minnesota Board of Regents is the Honorable David McMillan, from Duluth, Minn., who will also assist with the conferring of the degrees. Joining McMillan on the platform and bringing greetings from the U of M will be Robert Jones, Senior Vice President, Academic Administration, University of Minnesota System.
U of M, Crookston Alumna Jean (Fischer) Whalen (at left) will give the commencement address. Whalen, who graduated from the U of M, Crookston with an associate degree in court reporting in 1980 and a baccalaureate degree in applied studies in 2009, currently works as an official court reporter in the Second Judicial District in St. Paul, Minn. News release.
University of Minnesota, Crookston Alumni Association (UMCAA) Board President 
Juanita Lopez (at right), will bring greetings from the UMCAA and welcome the new graduates to the alumni association.
Graduating senior Alisha Aasness (at left, below), Crookston Student Association (CSA) president, will speak on behalf of the 
Class of 2012 and pass the torch of education, a Crookston campus tradition, to Adam Switzer (at right, below), the incoming CSA president. Aasness, from Fergus Falls, Minn., is graduating with a degree in horticulture. Switzer is a sport and recreation management major 
from Apple Valley, Minn.
The U of M, Crookston choir, under the direction of Associate Professor George French, will sing two selections, and the string ensemble, A Touch of Brass will perform as part of the graduation ceremony.
The 2012 commencement exercises mark the 104th graduating class to be recognized on the Crookston campus. A live audio stream of the commencement exercises will be available at www.umcrookston.edu/people/services/MediaServ/Stream.htm.
For more information, visit the commencement Web site at www.umcrookston.edu/commencement.
