Midyear Commencement Scheduled for Saturday

12/09/2022

The newest group of Saint Louis University alumni will be honored at the Midyear Commencement.

The ceremony will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, in Chaifetz Arena. For those unable to attend, the ceremony will stream live on slu.edu, on Saint Louis University's YouTube channel, and Facebook page.

A SLU graduate shows off his diploma holder. Photo by Sarah Conroy.

Mark Edward Ruff, the 2022 recipient of the Nancy McNeir Ring Award, will deliver the commencement address. It is a SLU tradition to have the winner of the Nancy McNeir Ring Award, SLU's highest honor for teaching, deliver the Midyear Commencement remarks.

The Nancy McNeir Ring Award was initially established in 1966 by SLU’s chapter of Alpha Sigma Nu, the national Jesuit honor society, to acknowledge faculty members who display special dedication to students.

Ruff began his career at SLU in 2004. He teaches history in the College of Arts and Sciences. Ruff has earned many honors and awards throughout his career, including multiple SLU Housing and Residence Life Faculty Excellence in Teaching Awards, several grants, and multiple fellowships.

Also scheduled to deliver remarks at the ceremony are President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., and Provost Mike Lewis, Ph.D. Lewis also will be the mace bearer for the event.

Midyear Commencement is slightly different from the May Commencement ceremony. In May, because of the large number of students graduating, the students walk across the stage in precommencement ceremonies. With a smaller group of graduates, students who take part in SLU's Midyear Commencement Ceremony are individually recognized as they cross the stage along with others from their school, college, or degree-granting center.

For more information on the ceremony, check out the Midyear Commencement homepage.