HSU Alumnus Stedman Graham to Give Commencement Address

(Abilene, Texas) Prominent businessman, motivational speaker, and author Stedman Graham will give the commencement address to students at Saturday’s graduation ceremonies. A 1974 graduate of HSU, Graham attended HSU on a basketball scholarship, graduating with a degree in Social Work. He is now the chairman and CEO of S. Graham & Associates, a Chicago-based management and marketing consulting firm that specializes in corporate and educational markets.  

He delivers his identity message throughout the country and globally to corporations, professional associations, government and civic organizations, colleges and universities, and community groups.

Graham has authored 11 books, including two New York Times best sellers: You Can Make It Happen: A Nine-Step Plan for Success and Teens Can Make It Happen: Nine Steps to Success.  His latest release, Identity: Your Passport to Success, was on the Wall Street Journal Best Seller list. 

Mike Hammack, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, said it was an honor to have Graham address students at the ceremonies.

“Stedman has enjoyed a long and distinguished career after graduating from HSU,” said Hammack. “We are pleased to welcome him back to campus.”

Graham will address both the 10 a.m. and the 2 p.m. graduates in Behrens Auditorium on Saturday.

Of the candidates for graduation, 211 students are earning bachelor’s degrees, 38 students are earning master’s degrees, and 4 students are earning doctorates.

Distinguished by gold honor cords, 49 students will be graduating cum laude, 25 magna cum laude, and 27 summa cum laude. Eleven students will be recognized for earning a perfect grade-point average.

During the 10 a.m. ceremony, degrees will be conferred to students graduating from the Cynthia Ann Parker College of Liberal Arts, the Holland School of Sciences and Mathematics, Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing, and Logsdon School of Theology.

During the 2 p.m. commencement, degrees will be conferred to students in the Kelley College of Business, Irvin School of Education, and College of Fine Arts.

Immediately following both commencement ceremonies, the HSU Alumni Association will host an informal reception for graduates, guests, and faculty/staff at the Alumni Wall in Centennial Plaza, located just west of Behrens Auditorium. Graduates will find a replica of the plaque that will bear their name as new alumni of HSU.