Eric Fingerhut, chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents, will deliver the keynote address at the ceremony, which begins at 2 p.m. in the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.

Event highlights include both the college's White Coat Ceremony, in which students receive their short white coats -- the mantle of the medical profession -- as well as the presentation of the Phillips Medal of Public Service to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to health care, education and/or public service. The Phillips Medals are the highest honor awarded by the college.

A total of 120 members make up the entering class of 2013. This breaks last year's record for the largest class in college history. This year's class also tied for the highest cumulative grade point average of any of the college's previous 33 classes.

During this year's ceremony, a Phillips Medal of Public Service will go to keynote speaker, Chancellor Fingerhut, as well as to David P. Blom, president and chief executive officer of Columbus-based OhioHealth. The award is named for the late J. Wallace and Jody Galbreath Phillips, both longtime friends of Ohio University.

Ohio University President Roderick J. McDavis and Executive Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit will offer greetings from the university, along with representatives from various professional organizations.

A reception will follow the ceremony at the Boyd Dining Hall on West Green.