ISU-Meridian to graduate its largest class May 9; Genesis World Mission’s Karl Watts is keynote speaker

Idaho State University will graduate a record number of students from its Treasure Valley programs Monday, May 9, conferring more than 200 graduate and undergraduate degrees in the health professions and sciences.

Commencement exercises begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Boise Centre, 850 W. Front St.  Dr. Karl Watts, president and founder of Genesis World Mission, will deliver the commencement keynote address.  In 2010, the American Academy of Family Physicians named the Boise doctor its national Family Physician of the Year.

"We are delighted that we are graduating our largest class to date of 200 students," said Ali Crane, ISU-Meridian's enrollment and student services director. "I'm sure students will find Dr. Watts' words inspiring as they enter careers in the health professions."

ISU-Meridian will award its first Doctor of Philosophy degree in counselor education and counseling, a program expanded from the Pocatello campus to Meridian in 2008.

"We're pleased to have our first Ph.D. graduate in counselor education and counseling," said ISU-Meridian Academic Dean Bessie Katsilometes, noting in 2010, U.S. News and World Report rated the ISU counseling program the 13^th best program of its kind in the country.

Dietetics student Kate Erickson —the Outstanding Student Achievement Award honoree representing ISU's Division of Health Sciences—and ISU-Meridian's seven Student Excellence Award nominees will be recognized at commencement. They are:

• Jessica Anderson, speech-language pathology 
• Gina Decker, public health
• Katie Fisher, physician assistant studies
• Cyndia Glorfield, counseling
• Jerri Kesler, communication sciences and disorders
• Jo Lynne Kiester, pharmacy
• Linsey Saras, athletic administration

Department faculty nominated the students for academic excellence, research, professional achievement and community service. Katsilometes will announce the top Student Excellence honoree at the commencement ceremony.

The ISU-Meridian Health Science Center offers more than 20 programs in the health professions, including pharmacy, nursing, medical/clinical laboratory science, physician assistant studies, audiology, dental hygiene, speech-language pathology, counseling and an advanced dental residency.

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Media Contact: Contact: Chris Gabettas, ISU-Meridian Health Science Center, University Relations, 208-373-1806 (office), 208-861-3121 (cell)