NDSU spring commencement ceremonies are scheduled for Saturday, May 14, at 10 a.m. in the Fargodome. Nearly 1,700 graduate, professional and undergraduate students are eligible to participate, and 1,100 have indicated they intend to march in the ceremony.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates will be the guest speaker.

Dr. Robert M. Gates was sworn in on December 18, 2006, as the 22nd Secretary of Defense. Dr. Gates is the only Secretary of Defense in U.S. history to be asked to remain in that office by a newly elected president. President Barack Obama is the eighth president Dr. Gates has served.

"Secretary Gates exemplifies a career of selfless service to our country at a level with few parallels, and through the course of his tenure leading Texas A&M University, became a broadly respected higher education leader," President Dean L. Bresciani said. "We are honored that North Dakota State University's graduates will have the opportunity to hear from such a notable patriot, scholar and public servant."

Andrew Baumann, from Bottineau, N.D., will be the soloist for the ceremony. Baumann, who will receive a bachelor’s degree in music with a concentration in vocal music education, is a member of Concert Choir and is a Madrigal singer. Baumann also was in Opera Theatre, The Statesmen and Men’s Ensemble. He participated in Residence Hall Government, the Student North Dakota Education Association, Collegiate American Choral Directors Association and CMENC: The National Association for Music Education. Baumann plans to find a full-time position in his own music classroom and to teach private voice lessons.

In addition, students from the Department of Aerospace Studies (Air Force ROTC) and the Department of Military Science (Army ROTC) will be commissioned as Second Lieutenants during the ceremony.

For additional commencement details, visit www.ndsu.edu/commencement.