More than 21,000 degrees, a record number, were awarded at eight Indiana University campuses during commencement ceremonies May 5 to 14, 2017. At the regional campuses, IU East and IU Kokomo achieved commencement records. Indiana University Southeast conferred 1,019 degrees at its 48th commencement on May 8.The Class of 2017 consisted of 993 candidates earning 906 bachelor’s degrees, 99 master’s degrees and 14 associate’s degrees. Thirty-three students walked across the stage at Freedom Hall in Louisville with a perfect 4.0 GPA.Bagpipers play as they lead the platform party down the aisle during IU Southeast's commencement ceremony.IU Southeast Chancellor Ray Wallace tells the Class of 2017 they are the future and this region’s next leaders.Jessica Pilkerton, a secondary education major from Louisville, delivered the class response. She highlighted her journey to overcome her own personal trials with the help of an inspiring education professor and the rest of the IU Southeast community.An IU Southeast graduate gives a thumbs up to the crowd as she crosses the platform during commencement.Indiana University Kokomo undergraduates wait for commencement to begin. The campus awarded 643 degrees to the Class of 2017. IU Kokomo Grand Marshal Linda Wallace, dean of the IU Kokomo School of Nursing, leads the platform party to the dais. Beth Brooke-Marciniak, the global vice chair for public policy at EY (formerly Ernst & Young), is presented with her hood as IU President Michael A. McRobbie, right, waits to present her with an honorary degree during IU Kokomo's commencement ceremony. Brooke-Marciniak grew up in Kokomo and is now EY's global sponsor for diversity and inclusiveness and a prominent advocate for the benefits of inclusive leadership.IU President Michael A. McRobbie, right, presents Beth Brooke-Marciniak with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during the IU Kokomo commencement ceremony. Amber Moore delivers the student address to the IU Kokomo Class of 2017. Moore, who earned a B.A. in English, recalled her first time on campus, attending the annual Halloween open house as a 3-year-old in a princess dress. Julia Person, B.S. ’17, delivers the Class of 2017's induction into the IU Alumni Association as IU Trustee Philip N. Eskew Jr. listens.IU Kokomo Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke congratulates a graduate as she makes her way across the platform.IU Kokomo graduates show off their diploma covers during the commencement ceremony. IU Kokomo's Class of 2017 was its largest-ever graduating class with 643 members.Campus Grand Marshal Scott Sernau holds the mace before the start of the Indiana University South Bend commencement ceremony.IU President Michael A. McRobbie, left, and former Indiana Gov. Joe Kernan pose for a photo before IU South Bend's commencement ceremony begins. Kernan was recognized during the ceremony with an honorary degree.Former Indiana Gov. Joseph Kernan, center, speaks with Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie and IU South Bend Chancellor Terry L. Allison, right, before the IU South Bend commencement ceremony begins.IU President Michael A. McRobbie, left, and IU Trustee Philip N. Eskew Jr. prepare to walk to the dais during the processional of the IU South Bend commencement ceremony, which was held at the University of Notre Dame.IU South Bend Chancellor Terry L. Allison, center, presents former Indiana Gov. Joseph Kernan to IU President Michael A. McRobbie for the conferral of an honorary degree during the ceremony.IU President Michael A. McRobbie, right, presents an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree to former Indiana Gov. Joe Kernan during IU South Bend’s commencement ceremony. Kernan served as governor and lieutenant governor as well as mayor of South Bend. He currently serves on IU South Bend's Chancellor's Advisory Board and is a member of the Chancellor's 100. As South Bend's mayor, he was credited with investing in long-term job-creation efforts, improving public safety and strengthening the city's financial standing.IU South Bend graduates stand to be recognized during IU South Bend's commencement ceremony. The campus awarded 1,020 degrees to the Class of 2017.IU South Bend undergraduates move their tassels after the conferral of degrees, indicating they are graduates of IU South Bend.A graduate celebrates after receiving his degree during IU South Bend commencement.An IU South Bend graduate celebrates by waving her decorated mortarboard at friends and family after receiving her degree.Indiana University Executive Vice President for University Academic Affairs John S. Applegate speaks with IPFW Chancellor Vicky L. Carwein before the Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne commencement ceremony begins at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.Indiana University Executive Vice President for University Academic Affairs John S. Applegate delivers remarks during Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne's commencement. Graduates move their tassels after the conferral of degrees during the Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne commencement ceremony.A graduate receives her diploma cover during the Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne commencement ceremony.From left, IU Northwest undergraduate Victoria Morales, left, IU Northwest undergraduate Vianney Navarro, IU President Michael A. McRobbie, former Indiana State Sen. Earline Rogers and IU Northwest Chancellor William J. Lowe pose for a photo in the robing room before the IU Northwest commencement ceremony.IU Northwest Grand Marshal Susan Zinner leads the platform party into the Genesis Convention Center during the IU Northwest commencement ceremony.IU President Michael A. McRobbie, left, and IU Trustee Philip N. Eskew Jr. lead the platform party to the dais during IU Northwest commencement.Indiana University Northwest Chancellor William J. Lowe applauds the Class of 2017 during the commencement ceremony.IU President Michael A. McRobbie delivers the commencement address during IU Northwest's ceremony.Former Indiana State Sen. Earline Rogers stands for recognition after receiving an honorary degree during the IU Northwest commencement ceremony. Rogers spent 38 years teaching in the Gary public school system. She was first elected to the Indiana Senate in 1990 and retired in 2016. Before serving in the Senate, she was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives for eight years.Vianney Navarro gives the student address during the IU Northwest commencement ceremony. Navarro graduated with a degree from the IU School of Education. IU Northwest awarded 643 degrees to the Class of 2017. IU East Chancellor Kathryn Cruz-Uribe and IU President Michael A. McRobbie pose for a photo before IU East's commencement ceremony.IU East students line up for the commencement processional.IU President Michael A. McRobbie, right, leads the procession to the dais during IU East's commencement ceremony.An IU East student waves during the IU East commencement ceremony. The campus awarded 876 degrees to the Class of 2017.Trevor Boram leads IU East's graduating class during the IU Alumni Association's induction ceremony as IU Trustee Philip N. Eskew Jr. listens. Boram, from Arcanum, Ohio, is the recipient of the Naomi Osborne Award, an honor given to the graduate with the highest grade point average.Aaron Dagres, from Newark, Ohio, addressed the IU East Class of 2017 during commencement. Dagres, who received a B.S. in Political Science, was selected to address the 2017 class after auditioning for the honor.Confetti falls as members of the Class of 2017 officially become graduates of IU East.IU East graduates approach the dais to receive their degrees.
