May 10, 2019

Media Advisory – SIU Carbondale Spring 2019 Commencement

Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to cover commencement ceremonies Friday and Saturday at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Nearly 2,600 professional, graduate and undergraduate students are candidates for degrees. 

Many times out-of-town guests turn to local media outlets to confirm commencement schedules. We would appreciate your help in sharing this schedule with your audiences. Graduation ceremonies are open to the public and tickets are not required. 

The seventh annual “Forever SIU: A Commencement Celebration” on Friday will celebrate the members of the Class of 2019 and their families. Festivities are from 5 to 10 p.m. in the Student Center and include food and drinks, a balloon artist, bowling, billiards, a life-size Saluki Jenga, and graduation craft projects to document memories.  

On Friday, commencement ceremonies begin with exercises for SIU School of Law graduates at 3 p.m. at Shryock Auditorium. Retired federal judge David R. Herndon is the keynote speaker. 

Each ceremony will be available via livestream. Previous commencement ceremonies are also available on the university’s YouTube channel.  

Melissa McCarthy will receive an honorary doctorate of performing arts during the 5:30 p.m. ceremony. 

Members of the media who are covering the honorary degree presentation to Melissa McCarthy are asked to enter and exit through the doors on the north side of the stadium, near the large tent. Members of the media are asked to remain in the designated media area and off the arena floor to avoid disruption to the ceremonies. 

Commencement ceremony schedule for Saturday 

Here is the ceremony schedule and the honorary degree recipient and distinguished service award recipient where applicable.  

9 a.m. – SIU Arena 

  • College of Agricultural Sciences.
  • College of Liberal Arts.
  • College of Science.
  • School of Medicine. 

Activist and civil rights leader Charles Neblett will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree at the ceremony.  

Long-time SIU supporters Jim and Vicki Blair of Energy will receive a Distinguished Service Award.  

1:30 p.m. – SIU Arena 

  • College of Business.
  • College of Education and Human Services.  

Thanu Kulachol, president emeritus of Bangkok University and former senator of Thailand, will receive an honorary doctor of education leadership.  

5:30 p.m. – SIU Arena 

  • College of Applied Sciences and Arts.
  • College of Engineering.
  • College of Mass Communication and Media Arts.  

Actress Melissa McCarthy, an SIU alumna and Plainfield, Illinois, native who was in the fashion design and merchandising program for two years in the late 1980s, will receive an honorary doctor of performing arts degree.  

Richard Blaudow, a 1970 graduate of the College of Engineering, will receive a Distinguished Service Award.