MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Some already have jobs, others are still looking, while others will choose to earn more degrees. WVU’s annual commencement produced hundreds and even thousands of different stories this weekend as more than 4,000 students earned degrees.
The final ceremonies took place Sunday afternoon following a busy weekend that included 19 ceremonies.
Students bid farewell to friends, professors and Morgantown memories. The events were held at the WVU Coliseum, the Creative Arts Center, the Mountainlair and Morgantown Event Center.
During each ceremony, students got a final send-off from special speakers including Jay Chattaway, a 1968 WVU graduate best known for composing award-winning music for “Star Trek;” Richard Gingras, head of news products at Google; and retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert G. Jenkins, a 1967 WVU graduate.
WVU handed out honorary degrees to five accomplished Mountaineers: Dr. Vicente Anido Jr., an international ophthalmology leader; Edward DiPaolo, a former Halliburton executive; Helen Holt, the first female West Virginia Secretary of State; Jennie Hunter-Cevera, a scientist who holds 15 patents; and Ken Kendrick, a business executive who made his career in computer software, banking and baseball.