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Nearly 4,100 degree candidates are expected for ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University’s 185th Spring Commencement this Saturday at Yager Stadium.

The ceremony celebrating the Class of 2024 begins at 10:30 a.m. and will be for those unable to attend in person. The ceremony will be held rain or shine.

A total of 4,099 degrees are expected to be conferred during the ceremony, including 3,480 bachelor’s degrees; 419 master’s degrees; 131 certificates; 56 associate degrees; and 13 doctorates.

Brian Niccol ’96 is this year’s commencement speaker. Niccol, chairman and CEO of Chipotle Mexican Grill, has maintained strong ties to ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú since graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Science, Engineering Management. Niccol and his wife, Jennifer ’97, recently donated a $2 million gift to the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú men’s basketball program, as well as providing the Niccol Family Basketball Award for Excellence in Academics and Athletics.

Divisional ceremonies and other graduate recognition programs occur throughout the weekend. More information can be found on the commencement webpage.

The top 10 undergraduate degrees to be conferred this year are: Marketing (284), Finance (272), Psychology (209), Biology (148), Nursing (121), Political Science (111), Kinesiology (109), Computer Science (108), Strategic Communications (102), and Supply Chain and Operations (83).

A total of 14.9% of students earning a bachelor’s degree will graduate with cum laude honors, 10% magna cum laude, and 5.7% summa cum laude. For associate degree recipients, 7.1% will graduate with cum laude honors and 3.6% magna cum laude.

Degree candidates represent 43 states and 23 countries.

Additionally, four honorary degrees will be awarded. Those recipients of Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degrees are:

• David Dafoe, founder and owner of Flavorman and one of the country’s foremost authorities on flavor. Dafoe graduated from ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú in 1984 with a B.A. in Zoology.
• Sharon Draper, author and educator whose novel “Out of My Mind” was recently adapted into a film. Draper earned a M.A. in English from ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú in 1973.
• Brian Niccol, who has helped accelerate sales growth in his roles as chairman and CEO of Chipotle.
• Tom Smith, founder and managing partner of Prescott General Partners, a private asset management firm. Smith graduated from ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú in 1950 with a B.S. in Economics and recently donated a fourth sculpture to ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú’s Oxford campus.

More on Commencement

• Area high school students are benefitting from Early College Academy, an offering from ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University Regionals that allows them to obtain an associate degree before graduating from high school. The first cohort of 19 high school seniors graduate from the program, which launched in 2022.
• ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú’s Nursing graduate program celebrates its first cohort this spring. The online Master of Science degree program has seven who will graduate in the growing field of advanced practice nursing.
• Graduate student Gavin Osterday combines his interest in earning a Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship and Emerging Technology.
• Sean Scott found a passion for the press while at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú. After graduation, he’ll serve the community as the founding editor of the new Oxford Free Press.
• Members of ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú’s Class of 2024 showed remarkable determination, adaptability during pandemic and throughout their time at the university. 
• Celebrate the Class of 2024 with this year’s Senior Spotlights.