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Collections

Curated story series

  • Alumni stories
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  • Mobility
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  • Student views
  • Graduate voices
  • Faculty voices
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Featured

Editor's picks

  • 9 reasons to love being a Spartan

    Aug. 28, 2026

    9 reasons to love being a Spartan

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

    Sept. 15, 2026

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

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Media and Communications

May 2, 2018

More than 7,800 Spartans graduate this weekend

By: Kristen Parker

Michigan State University will host commencement ceremonies this weekend at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center.

There are 5,618 undergraduate degree candidates and 2,207 advanced degree candidates. The College of Social Science has the most undergraduate degree candidates with 885.

The undergraduate convocation will take place at 1 p.m. Friday. Wanda Herndon, the first senior vice president of global communications for Starbucks Coffee Co., will deliver the commencement address and receive an honorary doctorate of humanities.

Also at the convocation, Bethany Beardslee, an American soprano, will receive an honorary doctorate of fine arts. Albie Sachs, a judge and human rights activist, will be awarded an honorary doctorate of laws.

The advanced degree ceremony will take place at 3:30 p.m. Friday with Marcia McNutt, the 22nd president of the National Academy of Sciences, addressing graduates. In addition, at the advanced degree ceremony, Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank Group, will receive an honorary doctorate of agriculture.

Both ceremonies will be livestreamed on the commencement website.

Bios of the speakers and honorary degree recipients may be found on MSUToday.

For more information and statistics about Spartan graduates, see the MSUToday feature, Spartan graduates are a force for good.

Twitter users are invited to use #MSUgrad18 to follow both ceremonies.

Bags and purses are prohibited from the Breslin Center. For a complete listing of prohibited items, visit the Breslin Center website. No food or beverage may be brought into Breslin, and this applies to graduates, guests and faculty participating in the ceremonies. As such, Breslin will offer a limited menu of concessions for sale one hour prior to the start of ceremonies and during the first hour of ceremonies. Smoking is prohibited at MSU.

Parking in the Breslin Center area is limited, so the public is encouraged to use the free shuttle service. Buses are accessible.

Media Parking
Parking passes for media are available from noon Wednesday to noon Friday at the Media Communications Office, 408 W. Circle Drive, Room 403, Olds Hall.

Media parking is available in Lot 63 West, accessible from Harrison Road. Media must obtain a parking pass from Media Communications. This pass must be displayed to enter the lot.

Breslin Center Entry for Media
Please enter 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.

Media and CommunicationsCommencementStudent and Campus Experience

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