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    9 reasons to love being a Spartan

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    Sept. 15, 2026

    NIH awards multi-university team over $4M to improve women’s health

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Commencement

Dec. 13, 2017

More than 2,700 Spartans graduate this weekend

By: Kristen Parker

Michigan State University will host commencement ceremonies Friday and Saturday at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center on the corner of Harrison Road and Kalamazoo Street.

There is a total of 1,943 undergraduate degree candidates and 784 advanced degree candidates. The College of Social Science has the most undergraduates with 349.

The advanced degree ceremony will be at 3:30 p.m. Friday. Michael VanRooyen, director of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, will speak. He will receive an honorary doctorate of humanities.

In addition, Carl Folke, director of the Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics, will receive an honorary doctorate of science.

Cynthia Pasky, founder and CEO of Strategic Staffing Solutions, or S3, will speak to graduates at 10 a.m. Saturday and will receive an honorary doctorate of business.

Later that day, Priya Balasubramaniam, vice president of iPhone operations at Apple Inc., will speak at 2 p.m., and will receive an honorary doctorate of engineering.

Additionally, Henry Regier, professor emeritus at University of Toronto, will receive an honorary doctorate of science.

More information on speakers and honorary degree recipients can be found on MSUToday.

Commencement ceremonies will be live streamed on the WKAR website.

For the safety and security of all attendees, no bags or purses will be permitted in Breslin for all commencement ceremonies. Cameras and camcorders are permitted, though cases are prohibited. No food or beverages – including bottled water – will be allowed in Breslin, and this applies to graduates, guests and faculty. As such, Breslin will offer a limited menu of concessions for sale during the ceremonies. Additional prohibited items include noisemakers, selfie sticks, pets, signs or weapons of any form. Smoking also is prohibited at the Breslin Center.

Metal detectors will be at all entrances to the facility, so please plan accordingly for processing.

Media Parking
Parking passes for media are available from 9 a.m. Thursday to noon Friday at the Media Communications Office, 408 W. Circle Drive, Room 403, Olds Hall. Media parking is available in the west side of Lot 63 off Harrison Road, immediately south of the Breslin Center.

Media must obtain a parking pass from Media Communications. This pass must be displayed to enter the lot.

Breslin Center Entry
Media must enter Breslin through the Berkowitz entrance on the east side of Breslin (on Birch Road).

Media will be accommodated on Platform 111. An audio feed will be available.

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