FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM), Ark. – More than 1,000 University of Arkansas students received their diplomas during the Fall commencement ceremony Saturday (Dec. 20) at 9 a.m. It's a record number of graduates, according to the university.
Barnhill Arena was filled with family and friends of graduates. Doors opened and the Boston Mountain Brass performed before the ceremony began.
Three leaders received honorary degrees. Gov. Mike Beebe; Mike Duke, former president and CEO of Walmart, and Andrew Hamilton, vice chancellor of the University of Oxford, were the recipients. All three spoke to students.
Trystan Kerr received her bachelor's in Social Work.
"I’m really excited that I’m finally graduating after only three and a half years," Kerr said. "It’s a really awesome field to be going into and to just know that I can help people through my degree and so I’m really excited about it.”
Stephen Robbins received his degree in nursing.
"It’s been a long road, a lot of stressful nights, a lot of sleepless nights but it really helps to have a family, the support system around you, not only your actual physical family but your friends and the program," Robbins said. "Without any of them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
This year’s commencement is expected to be an increase of more than 400 students from 2011, when the university started holding fall commencement ceremonies after a 40-year hiatus, according to a news release. About 900 students attended last year’s fall commencement.
Live streaming was available for anyone who was unable to attend the ceremony.