President Bush to speak at OSU commencement

Thursday, April 13, 2006

The White House announced Thursday that President George W. Bush will give this year’s commencement address.

Bush, who will speak at Boone Pickens Stadium on Saturday, May 6, will be the first commander-in-chief to address graduates at a college or university in the state since President George H.W. Bush spoke at OSU in 1990.

“We are delighted that President Bush will give our commencement address,” said OSU System CEO and President David Schmidly. “It is indeed an honor and privilege to have the president of the United States visit our campus and share in what will be a momentous day for our graduating seniors and their families.”

Bush will be the third U.S. president to speak at an OSU commencement. In May 1974, President Richard Nixon addressed graduates. Sixteen years later, H.W. Bush spoke during OSU’s spring commencement.

“The details surrounding the president’s visit are still being finalized,” said OSU Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management Bill Ivy.

The president is expected to give the general commencement address Saturday morning. Following the commencement ceremony, OSU academic colleges will host separate convocations to recognize graduates.

The president is speaking at four colleges this year, including a community college hit by Hurricane Katrina: May 11 at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, May 27 at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, and June 19 at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.