LEWISTON, Idaho – Lewis-Clark State College President J. Anthony Fernandez will retire after overseeing four straight years of record-setting graduation ceremonies, according to projections released by the college on Thursday. School administrators expect a record 946 graduates to receive a record 1,013 degrees this year. LCSC’s commencement ceremony is Friday, May 11, at 6 p.m. at the Activity Center.
It will be the eighth time in the past 10 years that LCSC has had a record number of students graduate. Since honoring 502 students in 2008, LCSC has seen nearly a 90 percent increase (88.4 percent). Last year’s totals were 816 graduates and 967 degrees.
“Nearly a decade ago, the Idaho State Board of Education tasked Idaho’s colleges and universities to increase their numbers of graduates,” Fernandez said. “Over the past 10 years LCSC has been more than equal to the task.”
Along with the records, the 2018 ceremony will be special as it falls during the celebration of LCSC’s 125th anniversary. Founded in 1893, LCSC has come a long way since graduating 17 students in 1898. The school officially kicked off its yearlong celebration on Jan. 27 and lists commencement as one of the anniversary’s marquee events. More information can be found at https://125.lcsc.edu.
Fernandez, who will retire on June 17 after eight years at the helm, will preside over the commencement ceremony and deliver the keynote address, which will be a history-filled tribute to the graduates, LCSC, and his family’s story. Special guests in attendance will include President’s Medallion recipient Bob Donaldson, superintendent of schools for the Lewiston School District, and Don Soltman, member of the Idaho State Board of Education. The event will be streamed live at https://livestream.com/lcsc.
LCSC students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends are all invited to attend the Senior Send Off celebration immediately following the ceremony. It will be held on the north side of the Activity Center by Reid Centennial Hall.
For more information visit www.lcsc.edu/graduation.