FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Fairmont State University will begin celebrations for the 154th fall commencement in early December with the second graduating class of graduates from the police training academy.
Registrar Lori Schoonmaker said regular commencement exercises will be held in two ceremonies in the Feaster Center on Saturday, Dec. 9. The College of Education, Health & Human Performance, the College of Nursing, and the College of Science & Technology at 10 a.m. After that ceremony, graduates from the College of Business & Aviation, the College of Liberal Arts, and Regents Bachelor of Arts will be recognized at 2 p.m.
“We don’t have tickets required, and space is limited, but we welcome one and all to celebrate our graduates, and we look forward to seeing everybody,” Schoonmaker said.
Gov. Jim Justice and Baby Dog have been invited to deliver the keynote address for the Fairmont State University Police Training Academy graduation. The cadets stay on campus in Pence Hall for the 16-week training program that focuses on physical training, courses in criminal law and procedure, basic and advanced policing procedures, and training with firearms. Cadets also learn the interpersonal skills needed to build relationships in their communities with residents and businesses.
“Those 25 cadets come from about 18 different West Virginia law enforcement agencies,” Schoonmaker said.
Graduates from the College of Nursing will be recognized at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, in the Feaster Center. Graduates with Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Associate of Science in Nursing degrees will go through the time-honored “pinning” ceremony.
“That pinning ceremony is typically a long-held commencement tradition and is symbolic of welcoming our newly graduated nurses into the profession,” Schoonmaker said.
The featured speaker for each exercise is Fairmont State alumni, financial educator, and founder of Sqwire, LLC, Danijel Velicki. Velicki arrived in the United States from Croatia in 1995 with just $40 in his pocket and a desire to build a life that awarded him the freedom to dream and take care of his family.
“We try to create a campus that is engaging and transformational for all of our students, including our nursing students,” Schoonmaker said. “At the end of the day, we just keep encouraging and supporting our students; we ultimately want them to become global citizens who give back to their communities.”
The public is welcome to attend all of the events, but there will also be an online link for those unable to attend or out of the area.
“If you’re coming to campus that day, make sure you arrive early.” Schoonmaker said. We’ll actually take an entrance to Squibb Wilson Boulevard and drive all the way around campus, and there’s accessible parking at the top of campus near the Feaster Center.”