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Indiana University of Pennsylvania will hold commencement ceremonies on Dec. 16 for 521 graduates, including 13 who completed their undergraduate studies with perfect 4.0 grade point averages.

The ceremony for students receiving graduate degrees is at 9:30 a.m. The ceremony for students receiving bachelor’s and associate degrees is at 1:00 p.m. Both will be held at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex. Students who have completed academic requirements for their degrees in December 2023 and January 2024 are eligible to participate in the ceremonies.

The ceremonies will be broadcast live on the university’s YouTube channel; links to the broadcasts are available on the IUP Commencement website. After the event, the video recorded during the livestream will be available to watch anytime. Each webcast will begin 15 minutes before the actual start of the ceremonies.

Tickets are not required for the December commencement ceremonies.

Of the 521 graduates being honored at the ceremonies, 349 are receiving bachelor’s degrees, 139 are receiving master’s degrees, 28 are receiving doctoral degrees, and five are receiving associate degrees.

Of the bachelor’s degree applicants, 178 qualify for Honors (3.25 or above cumulative grade point average). The total number of graduates by college are 36 from the College of Arts and Humanities, 88 from the Eberly College of Business, 48 from the College of Education and Communications, 112 from the College of Health and Human Services, 57 from the John J. and Char Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, 13 from the University College, and 167 from the School of Graduate Studies and Research.

IUP President Michael Driscoll will preside over both ceremonies. All students participating in commencement ceremonies will be recognized by name and congratulated on stage.

Gian Pagnucci, Distinguished University Professor and chair of the Department of English, is the grand marshal for both ceremonies. Francisco Alarcón, Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, and Lydia Rodriguez, Department of Foreign Languages, will be the student marshals at the undergraduate ceremony. Wanda Minnick and Jan Wachter, Department of Safety Sciences, will be the student marshals for the master’s and doctoral students, respectively, at the graduate ceremony.

IUP Alumni Association Board of Directors members Aaron Felter and Sara Barnett Lawer will offer greetings from the alumni association at the undergraduate and graduate ceremonies, respectively. Felter, of State College, earned a bachelor’s degree from IUP in 2001 and a master’s degree from IUP in 2011, both in criminology; Lawer, of Indiana, earned a bachelor’s degree from IUP in 2006 in education of exceptional persons and a master’s degree in 2008 in student affairs in higher education.

Abigail Arhart, a student in the master of arts in music performance program from Fort Pierre, SD, will sing the national anthem at both ceremonies. Arhart, daughter of Diane Arhart, teaches in the Indiana Community Music School, is president of the IUP Student National Association of Singing, is the graduate student representative of the Musical Theater Organization, and is the IUP Opera's assistant to the director.

Kalie Conley, a political science graduate from the College of Arts and Humanities, will present the senior class gift during the undergraduate ceremony. Graduates who contributed to the senior class gift are recognized with crimson and gray philanthropy cords—a tradition that can be traced back to 1888.

Conley, from Altoona, is the daughter of Rodney Conley and Holly Keagy. She is a 2019 graduate of Altoona High School. A dean’s list student, she worked with the IUP Phonathon and the IUP Office of Annual Giving, was a member of the Student Philanthropy organization, and participated in the cultural American French Exchange.

The undergraduate ceremony student speaker is Monique Mari Feliciano Labrador, a criminology graduate from Big Run. Labrador is the daughter of Brenda Daugherty and Roy Daugherty and is a 2020 graduate of Punxsutawney Area High School. She was a dean’s list student, is a recipient of the Person of Purpose Award, and is a member of the Psychology Club.

The graduate student speaker is Rochelle Plummer, from Chambersburg, who will receive a doctor of philosophy degree in administration and leadership studies. She is the daughter of Betty Jones and is the recipient of the 2023 College of Health and Human Services Outstanding Efforts in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Graduate Student Award. She is also the first person in her family to earn a doctoral degree.

Her dissertation is titled “Through Their Lens: The Meanings Black Students Ascribe to Early Alert/Warning System Outreach at Predominantly White Institutions.” Plummer serves to strengthen higher education institutions by implementing strategies that remove barriers for all students, especially those who are historically disadvantaged, have lower socioeconomic statuses, or are first-generation students. Her background includes roles from small private colleges to state universities. She is currently the associate vice president for Academic Success at King’s College, where she spearheads the Department for Academic Success, overseeing the campus’s retention efforts. Since her arrival, the college has achieved more than decade-high retention rates.

Before her current role, Plummer served as executive director for student retention at Shippensburg University. Her leadership at Shippensburg University contributed to record-breaking increases in retention, including for the African American and Hispanic student populations. She is a graduate of Shippensburg University, having earned her master of science in organizational development and leadership there, and she was the 2021 alumni recipient of the Cultural Impact Award. She also has a master of arts in English language and literature and a bachelor of arts in English from Willson College.

Students who completed their undergraduate studies with a perfect 4.0 grade point average are as follows:

  • Alexis Renee Boyle, of Madison, a supply chain management and human resources management major and economics minor in the Eberly College of Business honors program. Daughter of Rayni Boyle and Vincent Boyle Sr., she is a 2020 graduate of Yough Senior High School. A recipient of the Sutton Scholarship and the Eberly College of Business honors program scholarship, she was the leader of the trumpet section of the IUP Marching Band and was the band’s commanding officer. She also was a member of the Symphony Band, Pep Band, and University Band. She was a member of Phi Gamma Nu honor society, was publicity director and secretary for Delta Omicron honor society, was a peer mentor, and was a Student Success leader. She is currently completing IUP’s Master of Business Administration program.

  • Lorilie Bose, of McClure, a history major with a public history certification and an English minor. Daughter of Kelly Blose and Tim Blose, she is a 2020 graduate of Mifflin County High School. She received a Sutton Scholarship and the HNI Corporation Scholarship and won the History Department Topics Paper Award. She was a member of Phi Alpha Theta.

  • Erin Brumbaugh, a speech-language pathology major from Martinsburg. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Brumbaugh Sr., she is a 2020 graduate of Central High School. She received the Sutton Scholarship and Pennsylvania Ready to Succeed Scholarship. At IUP, she was a member of the National Student Speech, Language, and Hearing Association; Best Buddies; and Phi Eta Sigma honor society and was a student worker at the Hadley Union Building. She participated in a study abroad program in Belize.

  • Miranda Conrad, an early childhood-special education major from Murrysville. Daughter of Jerry Conrad, she is a 2017 graduate of Franklin Regional School District. She was a member of the Student Pennsylvania State Education Association and Kappa Delta Pi honor society and volunteered for Big Hearts Little Hands.

    Emily Elliott, a finance and economics major from Avon, Ohio. Daughter of Toni Yarosh and Mike Yarosh, she is a 2020 graduate of Magnificat High School. She was a student in the Eberly College of Business honors program and the economics honors program, she participated in the IUP Undergraduate Scholars Forum, and she received a certificate in Bloomberg Market Concepts. She was a member, the Consumer Staples section leader, and the chief economist for the Student Managed Investment Portfolio group; was the social media chair for the Student Finance Association; and was the student representative for the Eberly College of Business Student Advisory Council. She was a member and team manager of the IUP women’s lacrosse team.

  • Gabriella Giese, of Fogelsville, a biology-secondary science education graduate in the Cook Honors College. Daughter of Diana Schneider and Andrew Schneider and Gary Giese of Breinigsville, she is a 2020 graduate of Northwestern Lehigh High School. She received the Undergraduate Student Research Grant, Biology Undergraduate Research Experience financial award, the Undergraduate Summer Opportunities for Applying Research financial award, and the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Foundation Research financial award and was featured in the 2021 IUP President’s Report. She was a member of IUP Students Against Racism, Phi Eta Sigma honor society, and the Multicultural Student Leadership Team. She was also a Welcome Week leader, diversity peer educator, and BioME biology peer mentor.

  • Maggie Miller, of York, a biology major in the pre-medicine track with a minor in neurobiology. Daughter of Marycatherine Stein and Eric Miller, she is a 2020 graduate of Central York High School. She received the David T. Fleck DMV Biology Scholarship, the Alpha Gamma Delta Greek Award for achieving a 4.0 graduate point average, and the IUP Academic Achievement Award. She was a member of Alpha Chi Sigma, Alpha Gamma Delta, American Medical Student Association, and the National Society of Leadership and Success and was a tutor for introductory biology and chemistry classes.

  • Nicholas Powell, of Monaca, a safety, health, and environmental applied sciences major and member of the Cook Honors College. Son of Skip Powell and Michelle Powell, he is a 2017 graduate of Central Valley High School. He was a member of the Catholic Student Association.

  • Trey Rainey, an accounting major from Penn Run. Son of Jody Rainey and Christine Rainey, he is a 2020 graduate of Penns Manor Area High School. He was a member of the Eberly College of Business honors program and the Student Managed Investment Portfolio group and was president of the Student Accounting Association.

    Matthew Scholl, a communications media major from Northumberland. Son of Stephen Scholl and Sherri Scholl, he is a 2020 graduate of Shikellamy High School. He was a member of the student-run radio station, WIUP-FM, and The Swoop on IUP-TV.

  • Jessica Strydom, an early childhood education-special education major from Youngstown, Westmoreland County. Daughter of Morne Strydom and Ruth Strydom, she is a 2015 graduate of Vryburger High School. She was a member of the Student Pennsylvania State Education Association.

  • Carson Wendling, a supply chain management major from Hershey. Son of Dana and Scott Wendling, he is a 2020 graduate of Lower Dauphin High School. He was a member of the Eberly College of Business honors cohort and the Association of Supply Chain Management.

  • Morgan Wright, a political science graduate from Muir. The niece of Wendy and David Miller, she is a 2020 graduate of Williams Valley Junior-Senior High School. At IUP, she received the Sutton Scholarship and was a member of the Rifle Club, Social Networking Club, and College of Arts and Humanities Student Advisory Board. She also worked in the IUP Office of Admissions Operations.

Information about parking and shuttle service is available on the IUP website. For questions about commencement parking, call the IUP Parking and Visitors Services office at 724-357-8748.