While all graduating students may participate in the formal commencement ceremonies on the Athens campus, students who have completed their degrees on one of the five regional campuses also have an opportunity to celebrate their accomplishment among local family and friends. Each campus holds a recognition event to honor their graduates who have completed associate, bachelor's or master's degrees.

The first of those ceremonies was held last Friday on the Eastern campus. For featured speaker Rana Anderson, the event brought her Eastern campus experience full circle. She walked through the 2001 ceremony on the campus when she earned her bachelor's degree in exercise physiology.

"Looking back, I realize that I chose to attend Ohio University Eastern because it was close to home, affordable, and the staff truly cares about each and every student," Anderson said in her address. She began attending Ohio University-Eastern while she was still a student at Barnesville High School through the Postsecondary Options Program. Following graduation, she earned a master's and later a doctoral degree in physical therapy. Likewise, Anderson encouraged Eastern's graduates to embrace the next steps in their lives.

Four other regional campuses hold their events Friday evening. A look at keynote speakers and other special events follows.

Chillicothe Recognition of Graduates Ceremony
Friday, June 12, 7:30 p.m. at the Shoemaker Center

Colleen Marshall, a widely known TV newscaster with NBC 4 in Columbus, will deliver the keynote address. A reception for the graduates and their families will be held following the ceremony in the Family Service/Child Development Center.

A pinning ceremony for graduates of Chillicothe's nursing program will take place at 2:30 p.m. the same day in the Shoemaker Center.

Lancaster Campus Honors Convocation
Friday, June 12, 7:00 p.m. at the gymnasium

Lancaster's Phi Theta Kappa Professor of the Year for 2008, Joseph Faber, also an associate professor of biology, will be the keynote speaker for Honors Convocation.

During the ceremony, the 2009 PTK Professor of the Year, who has been selected by students and members of the PTK chapter, will be announced. Also, the Regional Higher Education Outstanding Professors will be announced and student activity awards presented.

Southern Campus Graduate Recognition Ceremony
Friday, June 12, 7:00 p.m. at Shafer Courtyard

Students completing the nursing program will be honored at a pinning ceremony on the same day at 3:00 p.m. Bowman Auditorium OUS Ironton

Zanesville Campus Recognition Night
Friday, June 12, 7:00 p.m. at Littick Gymnasium

Graduates who have completed all or a major portion of their coursework at the Zanesville campus, Dean's List and Honors List students, and recipients of special leadership awards will be honored at the event.

A pinning ceremony for nurses in Zanesville's nursing program will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Friday.