Nearly 300 graduates crossed the stage at Doane University’s spring commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 17.
Two ceremonies were held, one beginning at 10 a.m. for students receiving graduate degrees and undergraduate students who attended the Lincoln campus, and one at 2 p.m. for students receiving undergraduate degrees from the university’s Crete campus. Both ceremonies took place outdoors in Crete, in the university’s Cassel Theatre.
Doane President Dr. Roger Hughes, a 1982 graduate of the university, handed degrees to students who walked in the ceremonies to the cheers and celebration of their family and peers. A total of 264 students graduated from Doane in May, though not all participated in the commencement ceremonies.
From Clay County: Derek Leighton Story, Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration & Accounting, Cum Laude, of Clay Center; and Cade Robert Wiseman, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Data Analytics, of Sutton.
James Beatty presented the commencement address to audiences at the ceremonies. James Beatty is president of NCS International, a nationally recognized site selection and economic development firm, and has led over 300 projects representing more than 30,000 jobs and $3 billion in investment.
A respected author, speaker, and consultant, his work has been featured in major publications and he has advised organizations like the National Governors Association and the Congressional Office on U.S. Technology Assessment.
A 1970 Doane graduate and the university’s first African American math major, Beatty has received numerous honors and, with his wife Earlene, established the Grant Hatchett Scholarship.
