Ogden Named Commencement Speaker

Senator Steve Ogden will address the spring 2002 graduates.

The registrar's office expects about 1050 students to receive degrees, which would make the largest group ever at a single commencement.

Degrees will be conferred during two ceremonies at the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum on campus.

The Colleges of Criminal Justice and Education and Applied Science are slated to confer degrees at the 10 a.m. ceremony, followed by the Colleges of Arts and Sciences and Business Administration at the 2 p.m. ceremony. Speaking to both sets of graduates will be Texas Senator Steve Ogden.

James F. Gaertner will introduce Ogden and confer degrees.

Ogden is no stranger to the SHSU campus. He has been invited to speak by various organizations on several occasions and was in attendance during the March 1998 presentation of the Sam Houston Humanitarian Award to former president George Bush. Ogden was also the featured speaker at SHSU's 1997 summer commencement exercises.

Ogden, who has served in the Texas Senate since January of 1997, has been a state leader on budget issues, educational funding, child protection, transportation safety and criminal justice.

Prior to being elected to the Texas Senate, Ogden served three terms in the Texas House of Representatives. He is also president of Ogden Resources Corporation, an independent oil and gas company based in College Station. Ogden has been in the oil and gas exploration business for 18 years.

Ogden also served as an officer in the U.S. Navy's nuclear submarine force for nine years. He earned his bachelor of science degree at the U.S. Naval Academy and his master's in business administration at Texas A&M University.

Ogden and his wife, Beverly, were married in December of 1973 and live in Bryan. They are the proud parents of three children--Michael, Stephanie and Kristen.

The traditional pomp and pageantry will complete this spring's ceremonies. Following Ogden's graduation address, David Payne, vice president for academic affairs, will recognize three professors as excellence award winners.

William Harrell, professor of agriculture, will receive the Excellence in Service Award. Larry Hoover, professor of criminal justice, will receive the Excellence in Research Award, and David Gerling, associate professor of Spanish, will receive the Excellence in Teaching Award.

Richard Hartley, president of the Alumni Association Advisory Board, will give a few final remarks to the graduates before the recessional. The Sam Houston Brass Ensemble will provide music for the event.

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SHSU Media Contact: Audrey Wick
April 26, 2002
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