Southeast to hold graduation ceremony at 2 p.m. May 11

Southeast Missouri State University will graduate 957 students at commencement exercises on May 11.

Johnny Furr Jr., vice president of sales development and community affairs for Anheuser-Busch Inc., will deliver remarks during the 2 p.m. commencement ceremony at the Show Me Center. Furr has worked for Anheuser-Busch for 25 years.

School officials said 824 undergraduates and 133 graduates are scheduled to receive degrees.

Beth Roethemeyer, a graduating senior from Jackson, Mo., will sing the national anthem and the university's alma mater.

Nineteen students are scheduled to graduate with perfect 4.0 grade-point averages. They include area residents Michelle Bock of Old Appleton, Mo., Lynn Casteel of Jackson, Anne Hays of Cape Girardeau and Julie Mattingly of Perryville, Mo.

Three students will graduate with academic distinction in their major department, including Wendy Decker of Jackson.

Prior to commencement, an honors convocation will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Show Me Center where 203 undergraduates and 44 graduate students will be recognized.

Dr. Jai Dahiya, Southeast associate dean of the College of Science and Mathematics, will deliver the convocation address and serve as grand marshal at the commencement ceremony.

Participants in the honors convocation will include 46 students who will graduate summa cum laude, 50 who will graduate magna cum laude, 107 who will graduate cum laude and one who will graduate with associate degree honors.

Students graduating with honors must earn at least a 3.5 grade-point average. Those graduating magna cum laude must achieve a grade-point average of at least 3.75 and those graduating summa cum laude must earn a grade-point average of at least 3.9.