RIO GRANDE — Nearly 400 students will receive their degrees from the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College on Saturday, May 5 when the institution will hold its 136th Anniversary Commencement Ceremony.

Rio Grande will hold several graduation activities during the week, culminating with the commencement ceremony, which will begin at 1 p.m. on the Campus Green on May 5.

The activities will began on Tuesday, May 1 at 6 p.m. when the Radiologic Technology Pinning Ceremony is held on campus.

On Friday, May 4, the Graduates Breakfast will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Davis University Center. The breakfast will be hosted by the Rio Grande Campus Alumni Association Chapter and Rio Grande President Barbara Gellman-Danley, Ph.D.

The graduation practice will begin at 9:30 a.m. in front of Anniversary Hall on Friday, May 4. All graduating students are strongly encouraged to attend the practice, which will last for about one hour.

That evening the Nurses’ Pinning Ceremony will begin at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, May 5, the day will begin on campus with Brunch at The Marketplace Cafeteria in Davis University Center from 10 a.m. until noon.

All graduating students will be asked to assemble in their caps and gowns at 12:30 p.m. in their assigned areas in front of Davis Hall.

The commencement ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. on The Campus Green.

In the case of rain, the commencement ceremony will be moved into the Lyne Center’s Newt Oliver Arena. Graduating students will receive four tickets when they pick up their caps and gowns, and audience members will be required to show their tickets before they enter the gymnasium. If the graduating students have more than four guests and the ceremony has to be held inside the Lyne Center, the extra guests will be invited to watch the ceremony on video in the following locations:

• Guests of associate’s degree graduates will watch in the Morris Haskins Auditorium on the first floor of Bob Evans Farms Hall.

• Guests of bachelor’s degree graduates will watch in the Berry Fine and Performing Arts center.

• Guests of master’s degree graduates will watch in room 115 in Wood Hall.

Photographs and DVDs will be taken of the commencement ceremony, and graduating students and their family members will be able to purchase these items.

In addition, all graduating students will be able to have formal photographs taken for purchase before the ceremony in the Davis University Center from 10 a.m. until noon.

And in order to meet the needs of the graduating students and their families, the Rio Grande Bookstore will be open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Commencement Day.

After the commencement ceremony, the Rio Grande Women’s Club will host the annual Reception-on-the-Green for the graduates and their family members and friends.

Bidwell native and international business leader Sean Lane will provide the keynote speech for the ceremony.

Lane, who studied at Rio Grande as a post-secondary option student before earning his bachelor’s degree in political science with an emphasis on aerospace studies from Miami University, is the general partner and co-founder of Omni Science Technology Partners. Lane is a recognized expert in national security, technology, and entrepreneurship, and is a participating member of the Baltimore Council of Foreign Affairs.

Lane also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Battlefield Telecommunications Systems (BTS) Corp., which is based in Maryland and recently expanded to Gallipolis. BTS is also partnering with Rio Grande in order to implement the software engineering for the National Security Enterprise (RIO SENSE) program in Ohio. He also serves on the boards of several other corporations and organizations, and is recognized internationally for his leadership and his accomplishments.

While Lane has achieved international success, he is now using his knowledge and experience to benefit southeast Ohio. He will also share his wisdom and inspirational words with the graduating students and their family members and friends during the commencement ceremony.

For more information on the Saturday, May 5 commencement ceremony, call Annette Ward at 1-800-282-7201.