The Kansas State University Graduate School awarded approximately 194 master’s degrees and 74 doctoral degrees at the commencement ceremony held at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12 in Bramlage Coliseum. The ceremony also included the awarding of an honorary doctorate and recognition of graduate faculty members receiving awards for their contributions to research and education.
Wayne Freeman, received an honorary doctorate and was the commencement speaker. Freeman earned a bachelor’s degree in agronomy from Kansas State University in 1938 and later earned master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Illinois. He is recognized internationally for his research in seed science and his contributions to increasing production and nutritional quality of food all over the world.
Other special guests included three dignitaries from the Ecuadorian goverment who attended commencement in support of 42 students from Ecuador earning master’s degrees in education. Read the full story here.
Several graduate faculty members also were honored for their contributions to research and graduate education at Kansas State University. Gary Pierzynski, professor of agronomy, Sandra Stith, professor of family studies and human services, and Bhadriraju Subramanyam, professor of grain science and industry, were recognized as University Distinguished Professors. Kun Yan Zhu, professor of entomology, and Uwe Thumm, professor of physics, were recognized as Commerce Bank Distinguished Graduate Faculty.