The Winter Commencement ceremony for Missouri Western State University will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15 in the arena of the M.O. Looney Complex. The commencement speaker will be Dr. Daniel Shepherd, chair and associate professor of education.

The ceremony is free and open to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, and doors will open at 9:45 a.m. For those unable to attend, Commencement will be streamed live online at griff.vn/fa18grad. The MWSU Alumni Association will host a free reception for graduates and their families after the ceremony in the Looney Small Gym.

Other commencement-related activities include:

International Student Farewell & Sash Ceremony, 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, Enright Community Room, Spratt 214-216

Graduating international students will be presented with a sash from their country of citizenship as a gift from Missouri Western. It will be streamed live on the International Center’s Facebook page, facebook.com/mwsuinternational/.

Graduate Hooding Ceremony, 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, Fulkerson Center

Students receiving their master’s degrees will receive their academic hoods in a special ceremony. The hooding ceremony will be broadcast live at griff.vn/fa18hood.

Nursing Pinning Ceremony, 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, Fulkerson Center

Nursing graduates will receive pins symbolic of their chosen profession.

Missouri Western expects nearly 300 students to earn their degree this semester.

Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.