Alumnus Lloyd Mayes from the Class of 1970 will address the University of Minnesota Crookston (UMN Crookston) Class of 2019 during commencement exercises on Saturday, May 4. Graduates will take part in the ceremony, which begins at 1:30 p.m. in Lysaker Gymnasium, Sports Center. All are welcome to attend.
Mayes came to the University of Minnesota Crookston in 1968 from Washington, D.C., and led the school to two consecutive conference titles. His 1968-69 season is recognized as one of most outstanding performances ever given at the University of Minnesota Crookston. Mayes was the first African-American student and student-athlete at UMN Crookston and competed in both men's basketball and track and field. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. He served as education director at Kingman Boys and Girls Club in Washington, D. C., for many years and currently inspires audiences as a motivational speaker.
A reception in the Northern Lights Lounge, Sargeant Student Center, precedes the commencement ceremony from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The public is welcome to attend both events; no tickets or parking permits are required. Additionally, online graduates will have an opportunity to meet faculty at 11:30 a.m. in the Prairie Room, Sargent Student Center followed by a special recognition for graduates who are Veterans, Active Duty, Reserves, and National Guard members taking place at 12 p.m. in the Prairie Room.
On Saturday at 1:30 p.m., the formal procession of faculty, candidates for degrees, and platform guests will begin from the Sargeant Student Center to the gymnasium led by Mace Bearer associate professor Sharon Stewart, The procession also includes Faculty Marshal Marilyn Grave, associate professor in the Liberal Arts and Education Department.
Bringing greetings from the University of Minnesota Board of Regents is the Honorable Michael Hsu, Blaine, Minn., who also will assist with the conferring of the degrees.
University of Minnesota, Crookston Alumni Association (UMCAA) Board President Brooke Novak 2013 will bring greetings from the UMCAA and welcome the new graduates to the alumni association.
Crookston Student Association (CSA) President Ben Koisti, a senior majoring in golf and turf management from Lake Norden, S.D., will speak on behalf of the Class of 2019. Junior Greg Johnson, a junior from Lonsdale, Minn., will accept the torch of education, a Crookston campus tradition, as the incoming CSA president.
A reception for international student graduates will be held following commencement exercises at 3:30 p.m. in Bede Ballroom, Sargeant Student Center.
The 2019 commencement exercises mark the 111th graduating class to be recognized on the Crookston campus. A live audio stream of the commencement exercises will be available at www.crk.umn.edu/units/media-services.
For more information, visit the commencement website at www.crk.umn.edu/umc-commencement.
