Jeffrey Gold, Emily Conrad, (UNK, Courtesy)
KEARNEY – The University of Nebraska at Kearney will host its winter commencement 10 a.m. Friday at the Health and Sports Center on campus.
Interim Chancellor Charlie Bicak will confer degrees for 391 graduate and undergraduate students during the ceremony and present the annual Leland Holdt/Security Mutual Life Distinguished Faculty Award.
University of Nebraska System President Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold will deliver the keynote address.
A first-generation college graduate, Gold became the ninth president of the NU System on July 1, 2024. He leads a university system that enrolls nearly 50,000 students and employs 16,000 faculty and staff on campuses in Lincoln, Omaha and Kearney, plus academic divisions and research and extension centers across the state.
Raised in Brooklyn, New York, he earned a bachelor’s degree in theoretical and applied mechanics from Cornell University and Doctor of Medicine from the Weill Cornell College of Medicine. He’s been certified by the American Board of Surgery and American Board of Thoracic Surgery, specializing in adult and pediatric cardiac surgery.
A nationally recognized higher education and health care leader and advocate, Gold served as chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center and board chair of UNMC’s clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine, from 2014 to 2024. From 2017 to 2021, he concurrently held the role of University of Nebraska at Omaha chancellor.
He assumed executive vice president and provost duties in 2021, becoming the university system’s chief academic officer and primary liaison to the Board of Regents for academic affairs matters.
The student speaker is Emily Conrad, who graduates summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a management emphasis.
A Gretna native, Conrad was an active participant in the College of Business and Technology Living-Learning Community, serving as a mentor and leading community service events and business tours. She was also selected to help develop the College of Business and Technology Ambassadors program, representing UNK at a national conference and facilitating key events.
Outside academics, she works for UNK Campus Recreation and is a member of the UNK Climbing Club. She serves on the leadership team for the Navigators campus ministry group.
NU Board of Regents Vice Chair Paul Kenney will also address the graduates. The national anthem will be performed by Class of 2024 members Abbygail Marshall of North Platte and Megumi Sakamoto of Toyama, Japan, who are both graduating magna cum laude. Marshall will receive a bachelor’s degree in music education with a Spanish minor and Sakamoto earned a bachelor’s degree in music comprehensive with a music business emphasis.
Those who are unable to attend in person may watch the ceremony via livestream on UNK’s website. A recording can also be viewed later on the website.
PARKING INFO
Commencement attendees are encouraged to park in the lots west of the Health and Sports Center. Visitors with handicap permits can park east of the Health and Sports Center. Those transporting a handicapped person will have access to drop off the individual on the east side of the complex but will need to move their vehicle to another lot.
Visitors with wheelchairs can sit in the corner seating sections on the main floor of the Health and Sports Center or use the elevator in the northeast corner of the building to sit in the designated section on the arena floor.
Doors open at 8 a.m.
BAG/PURSE POLICY
Guests should expect a visual inspection of person, bags and clothing capable of concealing prohibited items. Small clutch purses and wallets are preferred at entry and will expedite inspection.
PROHIBITED ITEMS
For safety reasons, prohibited items include but are not limited to:
• Any type of weapon, fake weapon or object resembling a weapon. This includes firearms, knives, tasers, chains and any item deemed to compromise public safety.
• Alcohol, drugs, illegal substances, vaporizing pens/E-cigs or any paraphernalia associated with drug use. The Health and Sports Center is a smoke-free facility.
• Animals (except service animals).
• Laser pens/pointers of any type.
• Noisemakers (including air horns, cowbells or whistles).
If a prohibited item is revealed during a search, patrons may dispose of the item or they may return the item to their vehicle. The UNK Health and Sports Center does not safeguard any personal belongings or items of any type.
