UWA to hold commencement exercises May 9

LIVINGSTON — The University of West Alabama will honor nearly 500 graduates during spring commencement exercises Saturday, May 9, during two ceremonies. Both ceremonies will be held in Pruitt Gymnasium on the UWA campus, with Presidential Receptions open to all graduates and their guests in the Bell Conference Center prior to each ceremony.

The University will confer degrees in the Ira D. Pruitt Division of Nursing and in the colleges of Liberal Arts, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Business, and Education in a 10 a.m. ceremony. Students in the School of Graduate Studies will receive degrees in a 2 p.m. ceremony.

Several students will receive special recognition for academic achievements. The Ralph M. Lyon Award will be presented to the graduating student with the highest GPA. The William E. Gilbert Award for Outstanding Teaching will be presented to the faculty member chosen by the student body. Both prestigious awards are highly anticipated and will be announced during the undergraduate ceremony.

In addition, retiring faculty member Joyce Brannan will be named Professor Emeritus during commencement exercises. Brannan is a 1997 and 1999 graduate of the University and also holds a master’s degree in library and information science from Southern Mississippi University. She joined library faculty in 2001.

The University will confer an honorary degree to Ma Longhai, professor of education, director of the Leadership Development Research Center, and Vice President of Guandong University of Finance. Ma practices education management and researches methods of reform through new theory and new ideology in teaching, researching, and management in higher education. Ma has played an integral leadership role in the educational partnership between GDUF and UWA.

Director of Choral Activities Willie Williams will lead the UWA Choir in a special performance honoring graduates. In addition, the UWA Band, directed by Adam Anderson, will perform.

Guests must have tickets, which are available from the graduates, to attend the ceremonies in Pruitt Gym. Overflow seating to watch the commencement exercises will be available in the Bibb Graves Auditorium. The ceremonies will be available as a live stream at www.uwa.edu/live. For more information, call 205-652-3833.