Two Tennessee legislators will be joining the class of 2013 at this year's commencement ceremonies as the University of Memphis awards 2,382 degrees at two ceremonies on May 11.
U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander will speak at the 10 a.m. ceremony at FedExForum. Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett will address graduates at the 2 p.m. ceremony.
Alexander has served as a Tennessee senator since 2003. He serves on committees overseeing education and science, among others, and has been the U.S. secretary of education.
The former University of Tennessee president and professor will be speaking to graduates of the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Communication and Fine Arts and the University College.
Secretary Hargett will speak to graduates of the Fogelman College of Business & Economics, the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, the Herff College of Engineering, the Loewenberg School of Nursing, the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the School of Public Health.
Hargett has served as secretary of state since 2009. In 2010, he was chosen as a Henry Toll Fellow as one of the nation's top 40 state government officials.
The University will honor exiting President Shirley Raines during the afternoon ceremony.
"We definitely will do something for her," said Vanessa Muldrow, coordinator of commencement and student affairs special events. "It'll be a surprise for her as well. We definitely want to recognize her for all she's done for us."
The University will also present an honorary doctor of letters degree to alumnus Jim Ayers, businessman and philanthropist, during the afternoon ceremony.
The College of Business graduate is the chairman and sole owner of FirstBank, Tennessee's largest independently owned and operated bank.
Commencement speakers are chosen out of the president's office and the topic of their speeches is unknown until the week before the ceremonies, according to Muldrow.
Per tradition, other speakers will include the student government president, who will give a greeting.
Gregory Duckett, a representative from the Tennessee Board of Regents, will also take the stage to offer well wishes to graduates.
Each ceremony is expected to last approximately two hours, and the doors for entrance open one hour before each.
Per the University, in the event of a Memphis Grizzlies playoff game in FedExForum on May 11, commencement ceremonies will be moved to Sunday, May 12, at noon and 4 p.m.
