FeaturedDecember 09, 2024

Fall 2024 Commencement Ceremonies Slated Dec. 14

The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith will honor its fall 2024 graduates in two commencement ceremonies on Saturday, December 14, at the Stubblefield Center. The complete commencement program is available online.

The first ceremony, scheduled for 10 a.m., will celebrate graduates from the university’s largest academic college, the College of Arts and Sciences, who have earned 461 credentials, including technical certificates and associate and bachelor’s degrees.

The second, at 1 p.m., will recognize graduates from the College of Business and Industry, awarding 259 credentials, and the College of Health, Education, and Human Sciences, with 144 credentials. The 1 p.m. ceremony will also feature ceremonies for the university’s four fall 2024 master’s degree graduates.

In total, the university will award 864 credentials as part of its 111^th commencement.

Both ceremonies will be live-streamed on the UAFS website and YouTube channel to accommodate family and friends who cannot attend in person.

Jerry Glidewell, chairman of the UAFS Board of Visitors, will serve as the keynote speaker for both ceremonies. Glidewell attended UAFS when it was known as Westark Community College before earning his degree from the University of the Ozarks in 1979.

Glidewell has spent 45 years in the Boys & Girls Clubs movement, including 32 years as CEO of the Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs. Since retiring in 2022, he has served as a safety consultant for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, helping youth organizations nationwide.

In addition to his professional achievements, Glidewell has deep ties to UAFS and the Fort Smith community. He is a former member of the UAFS Alumni Council and currently serves on the boards of the Western Arkansas Community Foundation and the Community School of the Arts. His honors include the Spirit of the Frontier Award, the Maytag National Dependability Award, and the University of the Ozarks Alumni Achievement Award.

A former all-region baseball player for the Lions, Glidewell remains active in his personal pursuits, which include travel, art, and songwriting. More than 20 recording artists, including Carrie Underwood and T. Graham Brown, have performed his songs.