Howard Payne University will graduate 140 students during the spring Commencement ceremony this Saturday, May 9, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Brownwood Coliseum.

Dr. Bill Ellis, university president, and other university representatives will confer the undergraduate and graduate degrees. Dr. Ronny Marriott ’87, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Temple and member of HPU’s Board of Trustees, will deliver the charge to the graduates.

Additional program participants include: Corey Ash ’92, associate professor of music and director of bands; Jane Collette ’81, president of the HPU Alumni Association; Dr. Gary Gramling ’81, director of the graduate program in youth ministry and professor of Christian studies; Rev. Morgan Malone, executive director of Denton Baptist Association; Lillian Murselle McMillan, candidate for graduation; Dr. Kevin Mitchell, pastor of First Baptist Church of Pecos; Dr. Justin D. Murphy, dean of the School of Humanities, professor of history and director of the Guy D. Newman Honors Academy; Dr. Lois Patton, director of the graduate program in business administration and professor of business administration; Dr. Leslie Plagens, dean of the School of Business and professor of business administration; Dr. Joe Robinson, director of the instructional leadership graduate program and professor of education; Dr. Michael Rosato, dean of the School of Education and professor of education; Carter Sharpe, first vice chairman of the Board of Trustees; Dr. W. Mark Tew, provost; Lana Wagner ’97, registrar; Dr. Julie Welker ’94, faculty president, professor of communication and chair of the Department of Communication Studies; Dr. Russell Wheelington, associate professor of Christian studies; and the HPU Instrumental Ensemble.

The Commencement ceremony will be preceded on Friday, May 8, by Chime Out, an HPU tradition in which graduating seniors pass a chain of ivy to underclassmen, symbolizing the passing of authority, responsibility and privileges to those students who remain on campus to carry on the traditions of the university. Chime Out begins at 6 p.m. at the university’s J. Howard Hodge Memorial Bell Towers.