SMSU's 57th Commencement Set for May 10

Published Friday, May 02, 2025

Image from the ceremony in 2024

Southwest Minnesota State University will hold its 57th Commencement on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 10 a.m. in the R/A Facility on campus.

A total of 384 SMSU students — undergraduate and graduate — will participate in the ceremony out of the 564 students who are eligible. Graduate degree recipients will also receive their master’s hoods as they walk across the stage.

This year’s commencement address will be delivered to the Class of 2025 by Ryan Martin, a Class of 2002 alumnus, Mustang wheelchair basketball standout, non-profit executive, adaptive sports director for the City University of New York, and former professional basketball player.

The award for Outstanding Senior will also be revealed during the ceremony.

Following the commencement ceremony, a reception will be held in the upper level of the Student Center for students and their families.

Doors to the R/A Facility will open at 8:15 a.m. All guests are encouraged to be inside the R/A Facility by 9:55 a.m. to allow for the procession to begin. The ceremony will be streamed live at: https://www.smsu.edu/eventcenter/livestream.html. It will be broadcast live on Marshall’s two cable systems: Spectrum Channel 188; Vast Channel 95, digital channel 22.

In addition to the main ceremony on Saturday, the International Sash and the Nurse Pinning ceremonies will be held on Friday, May 9. The International students receive sashes representing their home countries to wear during Saturday’s commencement. Students graduating from the RN to BSN program receive a commemorative pin, which is a tradition in the nursing field.

For more information about where to park, what time to arrive, and how to get around, visit www.smsu.edu/commencement

Students participating in commencement should check their SMSU.edu email for information on their specific line-up room location and all the details for a smooth weekend.