Morehead State University will hold its 2015 Spring Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 9, at the Academic-Athletic Center.
During the two programs, President Wayne D. Andrews will confer degrees on nearly 1,100 graduate and undergraduate students.
The first commencement program will start at 10 a.m. Candidates from the College of Business and Public Affairs and College of Science and Technology will participate.
Taylor Lee Gasser of Lexington will be the morning student speaker. She is the oldest of three children and the daughter of Dawn and Scott Gasser.
She is a candidate for a Bachelor of Science degree in veterinary science as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish.
Gasser attended Madison Central High School where she was valedictorian, a member of National Honor Society and on the High Honor Roll.
Upon her arrival at Morehead State University, she was awarded a full academic scholarship through the George M. Luckey, Jr.Academic Honors Program. During her time at MSU, she has retained a cumulative GPA of 4.0, been named Outstanding Student of Veterinary Science two consecutive years, was the recipient of the Molly McBride Tutoring Excellence Awards and has made the dean’s list every semester.
Currently, Gasser works as a veterinary technician at Eagles Landing Pet Hospital and as a veterinary assistant at Bluegrass Veterinary Specialists plus Animal Emergency. During her time at MSU she tutored more than 200 individual students while working for the Tutoring and Learning Center.
After graduation, she will attend the Royal Veterinary College in London, England, to become a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Upon completion of Veterinary School, she plans to continue her work with animals as an international relief veterinarian or in an aquatic mammal/marine position.
Phillip M. Simms of Franklin Lakes, N.J, will receive a Bachelor of University Studies degree and be presented with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. He will speak to both groups of graduates.
Simms may be the best known Eagle athletic alumnus.
A four-year letterman, Simms was the Ohio Valley Conference’s (OVC) Offensive Player of the Year in 1977, and finished his MSU career with 5,545 passing yards and 32 touchdowns.
After his playing days at Morehead State, he was the Giants' first selection (seventh overall) in the 1979 NFL Draft.
Simms enjoyed a 15-year NFL career and when retired held 19 team records.
As an All-Pro quarterback, he led the New York Giants to two Super Bowl titles. He completed 22 of 25 passes in Super Bowl XXI, defeating the Denver Broncos, 39-20, to give the Giants their first Super Bowl title and earning him MVP honors.
Simms was inducted into the Morehead State Athletic Hall of Fame in October 1995 and Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. His numbers are retired by both the Giants (#11) and MSU (#12).
Simms joined CBS Sports in January 1998 as lead analyst for the CBS Television Network's coverage of the NFL. He and his wife, Diana, live in Franklin Lakes, N.J. They have three children, Christopher, Matthew and Deirdre.
The second program will begin at 2 p.m. with students in the Caudill College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and College of Education participating.
Brittany Gail Campbell of Salyersville will be the afternoon student speaker. She is the only child of Larry and Wilma Adams and wife of Weston Campbell.
She is a candidate for a Bachelor of Arts degree in middle grades education with component areas in English and social studies.
A graduate of Magoffin County High School, Campbell was a member of the BETA club, HOSA club, selected as a Who’s Who Among American High School students, Gifted and Talented member, Drama Club member and was on the High Honor Roll.
After transferring from Big Sandy Community and Technical College, where she was a member of the Honors Program, to Morehead State University, she was awarded the KCTCS Transfer Scholarship.
During her time at BSCTC and MSU, Campbell has maintained a cumulative GPA of 4.0, been a member of the Teacher Education Program, named as a Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities, a member of Phi Kappa Phi, and has made the dean’s list every semester.
After graduation, she plans to teach within the middle grades range in Eastern Kentucky. Upon employment, Campbell will pursue graduate studies while teaching and working within the P-12 school setting.
For the commencement exercises, the grand marshal and mace bearer will be Dr. Stacy Baker, professor of music tuba/euphonium, who received the 2014 Distinguished Teacher Award.
Faculty marshals will be Dr. Frances L. Helphinstine, professor of English, Dr. Dora Ahmadi, chair of the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics, and Dr. Martha Decker, associate professor of education.
Student marshals will be Maria Blevins and Ashley Morris, Graduate Programs; Karina Manz and Travis Miller, College of Science and Technology; Kyle Smith and Holly Wells, College of Business and Public Affairs; Jennifer Caudill and Sarah Eades, College of Education; Grant Bridges and Haley Clay, Caudill College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
MSU Chamber Singers will sing the national anthem; MSU Concert Choir will lead the alma mater and will perform during the commencement program.
Following the ceremony, the newest alumni will be inducted into the MSU Alumni Association Inc. by its president, Eric Howard, a 1981 graduate.
ROTC students will be commissioned as part of each program.
Additional information on Spring Commencement exercises is available by calling 606-783-2008.
