University of the Ozarks will hold its Fall 2023 Commencement on Saturday, Dec. 16, in Munger-Wilson Chapel.
Approximately 40 graduates are expected to take part in the ceremony, which will begin at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in-person.
Alumna Shannon (Carlisle) Huggins ’91 of Arlington, Texas, will provide the keynote address. Huggins has been in healthcare administration for more than 20 years and is currently senior vice president for contract strategy and population health for the Dallas-based Methodist Health System.
Huggins is the former president of the Alumni Association and is a member of the University’s Board of Trustees. She and her husband, Bryan, are long-time supporters of the University and were honored with the 2023 Pay it Forward Champions Award in October.
The senior speaker will be Daisy Woodbury, a theatre and strategic communications major from Mountain Home, Ark. The senior speaker is nominated by faculty and staff.
In conjunction with Commencement Week, the Senior Dinner will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 14 in the Rogers Conference Center (RCC) and the Brick Ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. on Dec. 15 on the campus mall. The Senior Dinner is open to graduating seniors as well as University faculty and staff. The Brick Ceremony is open to family and friends of the graduates.
The Senior Dinner speaker will be alumna Shelby Rice ’19 of Clarksville. Rice teaches eighth and ninth grade business and career development for the Clarksville School District. She previously taught fourth grade for four years. She is married to Bradley Rice, who is also a 2019 Ozarks graduate.
Topics: About