This year's college and university commencement exercises, which start over the weekend, will mark a moment in history beyond just graduation. A majority of the graduates started their college experience online -- at the height of the covid-19 pandemic.
But they will end it with in-person celebrations from every corner of Arkansas.
Among the highlights:
--A pair of actresses will be on two different campuses.
--Keynote speakers that include a first lady's chief of staff and the CEO of a major company pet owners would recognize.
--The Pryors -- former Senator Mark Pryor and his father, former Senator David Pryor, who died last month -- will be honored.
Ceremonies across the state will be livestreamed on nearly all college and university websites or YouTube channels. Some schools have not publicly released complete commencement information, partly because certain details remain to be finalized.
But information is readily available -- as well as updates -- on every college or university website in Arkansas.
Here is a list of commencement exercises for most of the public and private four-year colleges and universities in Arkansas.
Arkansas State University
May 4: First National Bank Arena, 217 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro.
Graduates of the Neil Griffin College of Business, College of Liberal Arts and Communication, College of Nursing and Health Professions, and University College will be awarded degrees at 10 a.m. Speaker: Distinguished Service Award winner Ann Long of Jackson, Mo., who is graduating with a double major in political science and history from the College of Liberal Arts and Communication.
Graduates of the College of Agriculture, College of Education and Behavioral Science, College of Engineering and Computer Science, and Beck College of Sciences and Mathematics will be recognized at 2:30 p.m. Speaker: Natan Gomez of Irapuato, Mexico, winner of the Wilson Award. Gomez is graduating with a degree in biotechnology from the Beck College of Sciences and Mathematics.
Arkansas Tech University
May 10: Tucker Coliseum, 1604 N. Coliseum Drive, Russellville. The College of Business and Economic Development and ATU-Ozark Campus commencement at 7 p.m.
May 11: Tucker Coliseum. The College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics at 9:30 a.m. The College of Arts and Humanities at 2 p.m., and the College of Education and Health at 6:30 p.m.
Harding University
May 4: College of Bible & Ministry, College of Business Administration and College of Education at 9 a.m.; College of Arts & Sciences at 12 p.m; and College of Allied Health, College of Nursing and College of Pharmacy at 3 p.m.
Henderson State University
May 3: Duke Wells Center, 849 N. 12th St., Arkadelphia.
The Health, Education and Social Sustainability (Nursing, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Education, Health and Human Performance, Recreation, Family & Consumer Science, Health and Physical Education, Criminal Justice Graduate Studies in Education, Nursing and Counseling, Associate of Science Health Science) at 10 a.m.
The Applied Professional Science and Technology; Arts and Humanities; and Business, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (Aviation, Engineering, Computer Science, Natural Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Business Degrees, MBA, Digital Media production, Music, Communications, Integrated Studies, Graphic Design, English, Political Science, Social Science Ed.) at 3 p.m.
John Brown University
May 4: Bill George Arena, 1218 W. Valley Drive, Siloam Springs. Undergraduate commencement at 10 a.m.; graduate and online undergraduates at 2 p.m. Speaker: retiring women's basketball coach Jeff Soderquist.
Lyon College
May 18: Sloan Auditorium, Brown Chapel and Fine Arts Building, 2300 Highland Road, Batesville at 8:30 a.m. Speaker: Andy Goodman, president, Arkansas' Independent Colleges and Universities.
Ouachita Baptist University
May 11, on the front lawn of Cone-Bottoms Hall, 400-472 N. 6th St, Arkadelphia, at 9:30 a.m.
University of Arkansas
May 10: Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at 3 p.m., Bud Walton Arena, 1270 Nolan Richardson Drive, Fayetteville. Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food & Life Sciences at 4 p.m., Barnhill Arena, 285 Stadium Drive, Fayetteville. Speaker: Jennifer James, part owner of H&J Land Co.
May 11: University Commencement (only graduate students recognized) at 8:30 a.m., Bud Walton Arena. The University of Arkansas will award an honorary degree to former U.S. Senator Mark Pryor.
College of Engineering at 12 p.m., Barnhill Arena, Speaker: Jim McClelland, former CEO of McClelland Consulting Engineers and 1967 U of A graduate.
Sam M. Walton College of Business, 12:30 p.m., Bud Walton Arena. Speaker: J.K. Symancyk, president and CEO of PetSmart.
Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, 3:30 p.m., Barnhill Arena. Speaker: Cathleen McGuigan, former editor-in-chief of Architectural Record.
College of Education and Health Professions, 5 p.m., Bud Walton Arena. Speaker: Fred Bonner II, professor and endowed chair in Educational Leadership and Counseling and executive director and chief scientist of the MACH-III Center at Prairie View A&M University.
May 18: School of Law, 2 p.m., Fayetteville Town Center, 15 W Mountain St.
University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service
May 4: 10 a.m., Ron Robinson Theater in downtown Little Rock. Speaker: Anita McBride, who served as chief of staff to First Lady Laura Bush and leads the Legacies of America's First Ladies Initiative at American University. Academy Award-winning actresss Mary Steenburgen, an Arkansas native, will receive the school's first-ever Honorary Master of Public Service degree at the ceremony.
University of Arkansas at Fort Smith
May 11: Stubblefield Center. College of Arts and Sciences at 10 a.m., College of Business and Industry at 1 p.m., and the College of Health, Education and Human Sciences at 4 p.m.
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
May 11: 9:30 a.m. ceremony for undergraduate students from the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics as well as undergraduate students from the College of Business, Health, and Human Services.
2 p.m. ceremony for undergraduate students from the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education as well as all graduate students.
Speaker: Leron McAdoo, also known as Ron Mc The HipHoptimist. McAdoo is a distinguished educator, artist, musician, author, first Poet Laureate of Little Rock, youth advocate, co-founder of Backyard Enterprises, and visionary behind The Mctivated Motivational Brand.
William H. Bowen School of Law commencement at 7 p.m. at the Statehouse Convention Center in downtown Little Rock. The speaker will be retired Judge Joyce Williams Warren.
University of Arkansas at Monticello
May 10: Steelman Field House, 71655 Weevil Drive, Monticello. A 10 a.m. ceremony will include the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources (undergraduate and graduate), the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, the School of Nursing, the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and the Division of General Studies. A 2 p.m. ceremony will include the School of Arts and Humanities (undergraduate and graduate), the School of Business, the School of Computer Information Systems, and the School of Education (undergraduate and graduate).
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
May 11: 10 a.m. at the Pine Bluff Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza. Robin Givens, an award-winning actress, director, author, and advocate for women's rights, will serve as the commencement speaker.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
May 18: Barton Coliseum on the Arkansas State Fairgrounds in Little Rock at 3 p.m. Honorary Degree, posthumously, for the late Sen. David Pryor for his decades of distinguished public service.
University of Central Arkansas
May 4: Farris Center, on Bruce Street. 9 a.m., College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; 11:30 a.m., College of Business and College of Education; 2 p.m., College of Health and Behavioral Sciences (Exercise Science, Health Sciences, Nutrition and Family Sciences, Psychology and Counseling); 4:30 p.m., College of Health and Behavioral Sciences (Nursing, Communication Sciences and Disorders) and College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
University of the Ozarks
May 11: Campus Mall in front of Robson Library at 9 a.m. Speaker: 1987 alumnus and current university board of trustee member Peter Van Dyke, vice president of complex casualty claims at CNA Insurance headquartered in Chicago.
Williams Baptist University
May 4: Southerland Mabee Center on the Walnut Ridge campus at 10 a.m.