Nearly 400 degrees will be conferred at the 40th Indiana University East Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 13. Commencement begins at 6 p.m. in the Tiernan Center at Richmond High School.

Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie and IU East Chancellor Nasser H. Paydar will preside and address the 396 graduates eligible to receive IU degrees during the ceremony. The figures include degree recipients from December 2010 and candidates for May, June and August 2011.

The ceremony will be broadcast via live stream video at iue.edu/live. The website also includes live commencement updates and commentary via Twitter and Facebook. Richmond residents can also watch the ceremony live on WCTV Channel 20. Follow IU East on Twitter for the latest updates and photos during the ceremony.

As part of the ceremony, Indiana University East will award an Indiana University Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree to Douglas C. Bennett, President of Earlham College. The honorary degree, the highest academic recognition Indiana University can bestow, is awarded to individuals who demonstrate the highest standards of personal integrity and sincere concern for the public good.

Lacey Mosey, Richmond, Ind., will address fellow classmates during the ceremony as the student speaker. Mosey will receive a Bachelor of Arts in English and was selected to address the 2011 class after auditioning for the honor.

Amanda Fischer, Ansonia, Ohio, RN to BSN, is the recipient of the Naomi Osborne Award, an honor given to the graduate with the highest grade point average, and will lead the graduating class during the alumni induction ceremony.

For a list of 2011 graduate candidates, go online to iue.edu/commencement.