FLORENCE – The University of North Alabama will host an early commencement ceremony for students playing in the DII National Championship game taking place Dec. 17. The event will take place Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 5:30 p.m., in the GUC Performance Center.
The special ceremony will feature the traditional regalia and conference of academic degrees, just like any traditional ceremony. However, the crowd will be slightly smaller than a traditional graduation ceremony. UNA President Dr. Ken Kitts said it’s important for the university to offer this special ceremony to these student athletes.
“These students worked extremely hard to make it to this championship game, and we’re so proud of that,” Kitts said. “But more importantly, they did so while working to earn their degrees from UNA, and they deserve to be recognized for that impressive accomplishment as well. We want this ceremony to be a celebration of the work that has occurred both in the classroom and on the football field,” he said.
The following students will be graduating:
| Name | Degree | Major | College |
| Matthew R. Harper | BBA | Finance / Prof Mngt | COB |
| Khyle M. Jackson | BS | Health, PE & Recreation | COEHS |
| James B. Rivers | BS | Health, PE & Recreation | COEHS |
| Joshua L. Tate | BS | Criminal Justice | COAS |
The regular commencement ceremonies will take place, Saturday, Dec. 17, at 10 a.m., and 2 p.m., in Flowers Hall.
As in years past, the graduates from the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Nursing will participate
Peter Guralnick
in the first ceremony at 10 a.m. The graduates from the College of Business and the College of Education and Human Sciences will participate in the second ceremony at 2 p.m.
Recipients of the coveted Keller Key Award will be announced at both ceremonies. The Keller Key Award is presented to a graduating student or students with the highest grade-point average in the senior class.
Peter Guralnick, American music critic, author and screenwriter, will be the featured commencement speaker at both graduation ceremonies. Called a “national resource” by some critics,
Rick Hall
Guralnick’s books include the prize-winning two-volume biography of Elvis Presley, Last Train to Memphis and Careless Love. Guralnick went on to write many books, including his recent biography of Sam Phillips, Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock ‘n’ Roll, which was published November 2015 and named one of the Best Books of the Year by The New York Times.
In addition to remarks by Guralnick, music icon Rick Hall will be the recipient of an honorary doctorate degree from UNA at the commencement ceremonies. Hall is a legendary music producer known for founding FAME studios; he’s also credited as the founder of the modern day “Muscle Shoals Sound.”
Media Release/UNA/Bryan Rachal, APR
Director, University Communications
