NC State to Hold Commencement Ceremony Dec. 16

North Carolina State University will confer degrees on more than 3,500 graduating students during its fall commencement exercise, beginning at 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 16, at the PNC Arena in Raleigh. Media coverage is invited.

During the ceremony, Chancellor Randy Woodson will confer 3,544 degrees – 53 associate’s, 2,034 bachelor’s, 1,097 master’s, 359 doctoral degrees and one Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. A total of 38 valedictorians will be recognized for earning perfect 4.0 grade-point averages during their academic careers at NC State. With the 5,447 degrees conferred in May, NC State will award a total of 8,991 degrees in 2016.

Margaret Spellings, president of the 17-campus University of North Carolina system, will deliver the commencement address. During the ceremony, Chancellor Randy Woodson will confer an honorary degree on Mildred Dresselhaus, an MIT physics and electrical engineering professor recognized for her groundbreaking work in carbon science.

NC State officials do not expect major traffic congestion, but they advise attendees to be in their seats by 8:15 a.m. NC State’s Amalgam Brass Ensemble will begin playing at 8:30 a.m., and graduates will march onto the arena floor at 9 a.m. More commencement information, including a complete schedule of graduation events, is available online.

Note to editors: Media seating will be provided near the front of the stage on the left-hand side.

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