USI to celebrate over 1,600 graduates at 2025 Spring Commencement Ceremonies

The University of Southern Indiana will hold five Commencement Ceremonies over two days, Friday and Saturday, May 9-10, in Liberty Arena, Home of the Screaming Eagles to recognize students from the Class of 2025 and two honorary degree recipients.   

One thousand six hundred and seventeen students are eligible to participate in 2025 Spring Commencement Ceremonies. Thirty-two students will graduate summa cum laude, 152 will graduate magna cum laude and 140 students will graduate cum laude. Thirty-four University Honor Scholars will be recognized. Members of the Class of 2025 will join more than 54,000 current USI alumni across Indiana, the United States and the world.   

Dr. Ronald S. Rochon, former USI President, and Lynn W. Rochon, former First Lady, will be honored for their service to the University with honorary Doctor of Laws degrees. The Rochons are being recognized for their 14 years of dedication and service to the University. 

Maxwell Stoll, USI Class of 2025 President’s Medalist, will also be recognized during the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education Commencement Ceremony.  

Speakers at each Commencement Ceremony will be USI alumni who have excelled in their professional lives. A full schedule of speakers is below:    

Friday, May 9   

School of Graduate Studies – 5 p.m.   

Major Adam W. Balbach, 2019 Master of Business Administration – Human Resources and a 2007 Bachelor of Science in Finance graduate, will deliver the Commencement address at the School of Graduate Studies Ceremony. He is an Active Duty Officer in the Indiana Army National Guard and has served his state and nation for two decades. 

Saturday, May 10   

Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions – 9 a.m.   

Dr. Daniel D. King, 2010 Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduate, is the speaker for the Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions Commencement Ceremony. He currently serves as an Associate Professor in the Doctor of Nursing Practice, Nurse Anesthesia Program at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in Chicago, Illinois. 

Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education – Noon  

Joel Tshite, 2019 Bachelor of Science in Engineering graduate, will deliver the Commencement address at the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education Ceremony. Currently, he serves as a Senior Data Center Build Engineer for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure in Chicago, Illinois. 

College of Liberal Arts – 3 p.m.   

Heather M. Vaught, 2010 Bachelor of Science in Art graduate, will speak at the College of Liberal Arts Ceremony. Presently, she is the owner of three businesses located in Downtown Evansville—Memo, River City Coffee + Goods and co-owner of Royal Art Books. 

Romain College of Business – 6 p.m.    

Nikki Roser, 1998 Master of Business Administration and 1994 Bachelor of Science in Accounting graduate, will deliver the Commencement address at the Romain College of Business Ceremony. She currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of First Bank, headquartered in Carmi, Illinois. 

All Ceremonies will be held in-person. Tickets will not be required for guests. A livestream of each ceremony will be available at USI.edu/watch-commencement.    

Those planning to attend in person are strongly advised to review the Liberty Arena Prohibited Items and Security Policy at USI.edu/arena-security.     

*Traffic alert: Please note that extensive construction is underway in Evansville, Indiana, particularly on Evansville’s west side State Road 62 (Lloyd Expressway), impacting travel to and from USI. Additionally, the University is renovating the Health Professions Center, which reduces University Boulevard to one lane as you enter campus. Drivers attending Commencement should plan to be in the left-hand lane when entering the roundabout. Please plan ahead and allow extra time for your arrival and departure when attending the Spring 2025 graduation celebrations. 

Follow Commencement on social media with the hashtag #USIGrad on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.    

For more information about Commencement, visit USI.edu/commencement.