McNeese Hosts 160th Commencement May 12

McNeese State University will hold two ceremonies this Friday, May 12, to confer degrees on the graduates at the university’s 160^th commencement in McNeese’s Legacy Center. The ceremony for the colleges of agricultural sciences, liberal arts and science, engineering and mathematics will be held at  

9 a.m. and the Burton College of Education and colleges of business and nursing and health professions will be held at 1:30 p.m. 

An honorary doctorate will be awarded at the afternoon ceremony to McNeese alumnus Charles E. “Chuck” Kleckley, a partner at the Picard Group, a governmental affairs firm with offices in Louisiana and Washington, D.C. 

The Inaugural Outstanding Graduate Award – sponsored by the Student Government Association and the Office of University Advancement – will be presented during commencement to two McNeese students to recognize them for their academic achievements. One undergraduate student and one graduate student from each of McNeese’s six colleges were nominated for the award.  

Guests will not be allowed access to the floor at any time before, during or after the ceremonies. 

Graduates will not be allowed access to the guest seating areas at any time before, during or after the ceremonies. 

The spring class of 2023 includes 703 candidates from 40 parishes, 19 states and 17 countries and 716 degrees will be awarded, including 33 associate degrees, 578 bachelor’s degrees and 105 master’s degrees.  

Doors will open one and one-half hours before each ceremony. For the safety and security of everyone in attendance, only clear bags not to exceed 12”x 6”x 12” will be allowed inside the Legacy Center and all bags are subject to search.  

The times, college ceremonies and college guest speakers are as follows: 

• 9 a.m. – College of Agricultural Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and College of Science, Engineering and Mathematics, Kristy Armand (‘88), founder of Healthy Image Marketing Agency and Thrive Magazine. 
• 1:30 p.m. – College of Business, Burton College of Education and College of Nursing and Health Professions, Charles E. “Chuck” Kleckley, (‘93), partner at the Picard Group. 

The McNeese commencement ceremonies will be live streamed on McNeese’s YouTube channel for family members and friends unable to attend commencement. For notifications when the events go live, subscribe to our channel here: www.youtube.com/mcneesestateu.  

You can find the livestream for the 9 a.m. ceremony at   

https://youtube.com/live/_DwVa0IQV4o?feature=share and the 1:30 p.m. ceremony at   

The ceremony will also be broadcast on the Calcasieu Parish Government Channel at a date to be announced.