More than 1,000 graduates receive degrees at Wichita State University commencement

Koch Arena was packed Sunday as thousands came to cheer and applaud Wichita State University graduates in the university’s 118th commencement ceremony.

“We are here today to recognize and celebrate the achievements of our graduates,” Anthony J. Vizzini, WSU provost and senior vice president, said as he donned a yellow Santa hat amid the roar of the crowd. “Graduates, you are all here today to begin one leg of your lifelong journey – that began here at Wichita State University. ... You will always be part of the Shocker phenomena.”

The WSU school song was played and black and yellow pompons were waved as Courtney Marshall, president and CEO of the WSU alumni association, welcomed the graduates.

Nearly 900 bachelor degrees were awarded Sunday, along with more than 100 graduate degrees.

“You did it!” Marshall shouted. “On behalf of the Wichita State University alumni association, it is truly my pleasure to welcome you here to graduation. I am going to just (take) a moment to say thank you to all family and friends that helped make this day possible for these graduates. Let’s give them a round of applause. ... Good luck on your future endeavors and congratulations on your degree, and welcome to the ranks of the Shocker alumni family. Go, Shocks!”

John Bardo, WSU president, introduced the graduates and those attending to Helen Van Etten, a member of the Kansas Board of Regents. Van Etten was appointed to the Board of Regents in 2013 and is the chief audiologist for the Topeka School Board.

“It is my honor to bring you my greetings and best wishes from the Kansas Board of Regents ... and to celebrate this wonderful accomplishment,” Van Etten told the graduates. “It is the culmination of years of study, hard work and commitment.”

During the ceremony, Donna Sweet was presented an honorary degree from Bardo and Vizzini. Sweet, a professor of internal medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita and director of internal medicine education at Via Christi Health at the St. Francis Campus, oversees the training of medical students and residents in internal medicine. The honorary degree was the first the university has offered since 1988.

There were two posthumous degrees awarded Sunday. One was for Abduljaleel Alarbash, who died in Saudia Arabia trying to stop a suicide bomber. A family member accepted on his behalf.

This story was originally published December 13, 2015 at 6:35 PM with the headline "More than 1,000 graduates receive degrees at Wichita State University commencement."