Nahida Haq Nworen ’18 will deliver the student address.
A Bangladeshi woman earning bachelor’s degrees in political science and international relations will address graduates at Fall Semester graduation exercises.
More than 575 undergraduate students and graduate students are expected to participate in Commencement 1 p.m. Dec. 21 in Halenbeck Hall.
They are among 897 students earning degrees and certificates this semester, including 733 undergraduate students and 164 graduate students.
Of those graduate students, eight are earning doctoral degrees.
The student speaker, Nahida Haq Nworen, hails from Bangladesh, the world’s eighth-most populous nation.
She is one of 13 students from the majority Muslim nation of 163 million, sandwiched between India and Myanmar.
Nworen served as a senator in Student Government. She participated in the Jugaad Leadership Program, an initiative to build a St. Cloud-area cadre of leaders committed to positive change.
Nworen interned with Big Brother Big Sisters of Central Minnesota. She currently works as a strategic planning and community outreach intern for the City of St. Cloud, Mayor’s Office.
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Conferring degrees will be President Robbyn Wacker. Presenting the graduating class are Dan Gregory, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, and the deans of the schools and colleges that comprise St. Cloud State.
Representing faculty is Hung-Chih “Alvin” Yu, associate professor of geography and planning. Sharing alumni remarks is Terri Mische, executive director, St. Cloud State Alumni Association.
Representing the Minnesota State system is Abdulrahmane Abdul-Aziz, trustee. Abdul-Aziz is political science and sociology double major at Minnesota State University Mankato. He is a first-generation immigrant from Togo.
Mayor David Kleis ’89 will bring greetings from the City of St. Cloud.
The Wind Ensemble will perform music, including Antonin Dvork’s “American Rondo,” Paul McCartney’s “Yesterday” and “Concerto in G Major: Alla Rustica” by Antonio Vivaldi. Conducting the Wind Ensemble is Marion Judish, professor of music.
Parking will be free Dec. 21 in campus parking lots and the 4th Avenue Parking Ramp.
Graduates, their guests, faculty and staff are encouraged to use the free St. Cloud Metro Bus shuttle. Street parking is available, as posted.
At St. Cloud State, an A average corresponds to a 4.0 grade-point average.
Undergraduate honors are:
Gold tassel | Summa cum laude (with highest honor) = 3.75 to 4.00
Silver tassel | Magna cum laude (with great honor) = 3.50 to 3.74
Red tassel | Cum laude (with honor) = 3.25 to 3.49
