Prior to each year's graduation ceremony, the Ball State University president undergoes a quest to find a commencement speaker. This year, the quest ended in the selection of former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card Jr. to speak at the May 5th commencement ceremony.
Terry King, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said President Jo Ann Gora personally knows Card.
"It is helpful that President Gora knows Card," he said. "Especially considering his participation in public service that has been prominent in recent history."
Card's political career began in 1974 when he joined the Massachusetts House of Representatives. In 1992 he began his work for former President George H.W. Bush as the secretary of transportation, King said.
After taking a leave of absence from the office for seven years, Card returned in 2000 when he was appointed to be White House chief of staff, King said.
Apart from being the principal speaker during commencement, Card will also be receiving an honorary doctor of laws degree, he said. Other notable people receiving degrees alongside Card are Judy O'Bannon, former Indiana first lady, and Hurley Goodall, local civil rights advocate and author. King said the accomplishments achieved within their careers is the common thread tying these three together.
"President Gora made a proposal for the degrees to be awarded," King said, "and the Board of Trustees made the decision on the degree title."
Previous Ball State President John Pruis and his wife, Angeline, have also been announced to receive this year's President's Medal of Distinction, which is the highest award presented by the university, he said.
Sharon Woodruff, commencement coordinator, said 2,658 students are currently eligible to participate in the ceremony, and an estimated 1,600 students are planned to attend.
The ceremony begins with the students lining up at 9:15 a.m. and then the students proceed to the Arts Terrace, she said. Gora and King will say a few words and introduce the honorary degree recipients, who will also come up to speak, Woodruff said.
The ceremony will continue with the presentation of the hoods to the doctoral students, followed by the presentation of the 4.0 GPA students, Woodruff said.
After the main ceremony, each college will hold a ceremony at which students will receive their diplomas, she said.
"One of the most important things is that all students planning to attend the ceremony need to go to www.bsu.edu/commencement and let me know," Woodruff said.
The deadline to register to attend is April 27.
There will also be a webcast of this year's main ceremony, and following the commencement, DVD and video copies will be for sale on the commencement Web site or at the commencement office, Woodruff said.
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