Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett will deliver the commencement address at this year’s graduation at 11 a.m. on May 3 in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center.
Hargett is a native of Ripley who attained a B.B.A. in accounting with honors from Memphis State University and a M.B.A. from University of Memphis.
Hargett was elected to serve as Tennessee’s 37th Secretary of State in 2009 and 2013. He oversees more than 300 employees and serves on 15 boards and commissions, along with striving to increase transparency in state government by making records of board and commission meetings more accessible. In his time in office, Hargett has also made it a priority to increase savings for taxpayers, and he is the president of the National Association of Secretaries of State.
In addition, Hargett is on the board of directors for the YMCA Youth in Government program.
In 2010, Hargett was named a Henry Toll Fellow, which is given to 40 of the nation’s top state government officials.
As for the remainder of the ceremony, UTM Chancellor Dr. Tom Rakes will lead the ceremony and give out degrees, and UT Alumni Association Alumni Distinguished Service Professor Dr. Nell Gullet will be the mace bearer. Faculty Senate President Dr. Jefferson Rogers, Faculty Senate Vice President Dr. Brian Donavant, Interim Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Nancy Yarbrough and Vice Chancellor for University Advancement Andrew Wilson will serve as processional marshals. Delana Easley, collaborative pianist for the Department of Music, will perform the processional.
A live commencement webcast will be available at www.ovcdigitalnetwork.com/showcase/?Live=1579. A reception will be hosted in the Skyhawk Fieldhouse following commencement.
For those attending graduation, each graduate will receive six free tickets to admit guests at the Grand Finale Senior Walk and student commencement practice on April 23. Graduates may also pick up tickets in the Office of Academic Records and have until May 2 at 4:30 p.m. to pick those up. Tickets that are not claimed by that date will be distributed to those outside the Elam Center at 9 a.m. before the ceremony. Those who do not have a ticket may watch the ceremony via video and audio feed in the Skyhawk Fieldhouse.
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