700 students to graduate at Catholic colleges in archdiocese

Criterion staff report

Students, families and educators will join in the celebration as the three Catholic colleges in the archdiocese hold their graduation ceremonies in May.

Marian University

History will be made—and another record will be set—when Marian University holds its commencement at 10 a.m. on May 8 at the school’s St. Vincent Health Field.

The graduation ceremony will be the college’s first as Marian University, after the school changed its name from Marian College on July 1, 2009. This year’s celebration also marks the 73rd annual commencement at the institution.

A new record will also be established as 456 students are expected to graduate this year from the college founded by the Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg.

The commencement speaker will be Tony Bennett, Indiana’s superintendent of public instruction. He will also receive an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree.

An honorary Doctor of Business degree will be awarded to Michael A. Evans, the president and chief executive officer of AIT Laboratories. Jack R. Snyder will receive an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree. Snyder is the chairman emeritus of Marian University’s board of trustees.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College will celebrate its 169th commencement on May 8 when the 225 graduates of its Class of 2010 will be honored.

Graduates will receive their degrees during the ceremony that begins at 2 p.m. in the Cecilian Auditorium of the college’s Conservatory of Music.

The commencement speaker will be Deirdre Connelly, the president of North American Pharmaceuticals of GlaxoSmithKline. Named the 2010 Woman of the Year by the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association, Connelly will receive an honorary degree during the commencement.

Rabbi Bernard M. Cohen will also receive an honorary degree during the ceremony. From 1963 to 1970, Cohen served as a visiting professor at the college founded by the Sisters of Providence.

Saint Meinrad School of Theology

Forty-three students are expected to receive master’s degrees when Saint Meinrad School of Theology holds its commencement at 2 p.m. central time on May 8.

The ceremony will take place in the archabbey’s St. Bede Theater, where graduates will receive degrees that include Master of Divinity, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Catholic Philosophical Studies, and Master of Arts in Catholic Thought and Life.

The commencement address will be given by Bishop J. Terry Steib of the Diocese of Memphis. †