The upcoming 157th commencement ceremony at Drake University is set to be a significant event for its graduating students. Scheduled for Saturday, December 14, at 10 a.m., the ceremony will take place at the Knapp Center, 2525 Forest Avenue, Des Moines. Approximately 225 degrees will be conferred, covering bachelor’s, master’s, and professional programs.
Notable Speakers
Among the highlights of the ceremony, Kenia Calderon Ceron will serve as the student speaker. Calderon Ceron, who is set to receive her Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, previously completed her bachelor’s in business administration at Drake in August 2017, focusing on entrepreneurial management. Currently, she holds the position of vice president and business development director at GreenState Credit Union. Her accolades include being named Des Moines Register’s Person to Watch in 2025, receiving the Iowa International Center’s 2016 Passport to Prosperity award, and being recognized as a 2017 Woman to Watch by Credit Union Times.
During her undergraduate years, Calderon Ceron was actively involved in student governance as a senator and led La Fuerza Latina, an organization dedicated to empowering Latino students at Drake University. This leadership experience has been instrumental in her current role at GreenState Credit Union, where she spearheads efforts to enhance services for bilingual members.
The ceremony will be initiated by Craige Wrenn, the University Marshal and a professor at Drake University, who chairs the Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences department. Additionally, Provost Sue Mattison and Craig Owens, dean of John Dee Bright College and professor of English, will oversee the proceedings.
Event Information
The event is projected to last between 75 to 90 minutes and will be available via live stream at live.drake.edu. Attendees can take advantage of free parking in campus lots. More details, including directions, are accessible on the Registrar’s web page.
Read More Here
