ASU kicks off spring graduation events with veteran’s ceremony Saturday

ASUNOW - 05/08/2017 - Sun Devil Stadium - Veteran graduates listen as Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz addresses students during the spring 2017 commencement Monday evening in Tempe, Ariz. Photo by Deanna Dent/ASUNow
ASUNOW - 05/08/2017 - Sun Devil Stadium - Veteran graduates listen as Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz addresses students during the spring 2017 commencement Monday evening in Tempe, Ariz. Photo by Deanna Dent/ASUNow

TEMPE – The first Arizona State University graduation-related ceremony for Spring 2018 will be held Saturday here in Grady Gammage Auditorium at 10 a.m., and will honor graduating veterans, active-duty, Guard/reserves, and military family members.

The Veterans Honor Stole Ceremony — and ASU tradition that started with 12 veterans — will celebrate the more than 800 military-affiliated students graduating this semester, and play host to more than 1,500 expected guests.

During the ceremony, each veteran will be presented an “honor stole” emblazoned with the branch of military service in which they served.  The stoles may be worn over academic regalia during commencement ceremonies.  Veterans will also have the opportunity to show off their service pride by singing their respective branch of service songs.

Ceremony guest speaker will be graduating Marine veteran Chris Cadeau, a sports journalism major and host/creator of the “Veterans Diaries” on ASU’s Blaze Radio.