Oregon Governor Tina Kotek surprised graduates and audience members by visiting Ashland to deliver the commencement address for Southern Oregon University's Class of 2025 last Saturday.
The event -- SOU's 99th Commencement -- marked the first time the governor has spoken at a graduation ceremony since taking office. SOU President Rick Bailey expressed his thanks to the governor and to the day's honorees -- the graduates.
The 880 graduates in SOU's Class of 2025 -- and the capacity crowd at Raider Stadium -- cheered and applauded throughout speeches from Governor Kotek, President Bailey, student Parker Boom and others in the 2-1/2-hour ceremony.
A total of 1,056 degrees were conferred including 659 undergraduate degrees, 221 graduate degrees and 176 certificates.
Governor Kotek and President Bailey presented diploma covers, shook hands and posed for photos with each new graduate as their names were called and they walked individually across the stage.
SOU Provost and Executive Vice-President Casey Shillam, PhD, presided over the event.
