Contact: Dr. Donna M. Simon (304) 766-3363 dsimon@wvstateu.edu
INSTITUTE, W.Va. – Approximately 150 students will graduate from West Virginia State University on Saturday, Dec. 15, during two commencement ceremonies to be held on the school’s Institute campus.
The first ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. and will be for students graduating from the College of Professional Studies, the largest of the four colleges that make up WVSU.
The second ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. and will be for students graduating from the College of Arts and Humanities, the College of Business and Social Sciences and the College of Natural Science and Mathematics. Both commencements will take place in the P. Ahmed Williams Auditorium, on the second floor of Ferrell Hall.
Dr. Lawrence Crawford, a highly successful entrepreneur and dentist, will be the commencement speaker at both ceremonies.
Crawford is currently the chairman and CEO of Diversity-Vuteq LLC, a supplier of molded plastic parts and assemblies for the automotive industry. Diversity-Vuteq LLC is an international joint venture between Crawford and Vuteq, a major Japanese automotive parts supplier that supports Toyota operations in Indiana and Mississippi.
Crawford is also the co-founder of VITEC-USA, a supplier of plastic fuel tanks and systems to the automotive industry. VITEC was the first major manufacturing business in the Detroit Empowerment Zone and records annual sales of more than $150 million.
In addition to Crawford, WVSU President Brian O. Hemphill will also speak at both commencement ceremonies. WVSU Board of Governors Chairman Larry L. Rowe and Vice Chairman L. Vincent Williams will provide greetings from the Board. Dr. R. Charles Byers, WVSU provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, will provide closing remarks.
The Yellow Jacket Battalion Color Guard will post colors for both ceremonies, while the WVSU Brass Ensemble, under the direction of Scott Woodard, will provide the musical prelude.
Two honorary doctorate degrees will also be awarded on Saturday, one during the 10 a.m. commencement, and one during the 2 p.m. ceremony.
WVSU holds commencements in December and May of each year. The December commencement recognizes those students from both the summer and fall semesters who have completed the requirements for their degrees.