Southeast Missouri State University is preparing to say goodbye to 680 graduating seniors during the fall 2014 commencement. The Honors Convocation will take place at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 20 at the Show Me Center, followed by the commencement ceremony at 2 p.m.

The commencement ceremony will recognize 549 undergraduates and 131 master's and specialist candidates. The group includes eight undergraduate students who are graduating with 4.0 grade point averages and 11 undergraduate students who are graduating as Honors Scholars.

The Honors Convocation ceremony will recognize one student graduating with academic distinction in the department of major, one student graduating with honors in associate degrees, 69 students graduating Cum Laude, 57 students graduating Magna Cum Laude, 21 students graduating Summa Cum Laude and 11 students graduating who have completed the Honors Program.

Senior Katie Brucker will be graduating with a bachelor's degree in physical education.

"It is really exciting to be graduating after four and a half years. It has been a great experience," Brucker said.

She acknowledged Dr. Daniel Beard and Annette Slattery as being helpful to her through the years.

"The PE teachers really want you to succeed," Brucker said.

Presenting the commencement address will be Dr. Kenneth W. Dobbins, president of Southeast, and his wife, Jeanine Larson Dobbins, founder and director emeritus of the Missouri Statewide Early Literacy Intervention Program based at Southeast.

Dr. Kenn Stilson, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance, will be honored with this year's PRIDE award during the commencement.

The Provost's Research, Instruction and Development for Excellence Award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated excellence as a teacher, an extraordinary level of scholarship and service and whose overall accomplishments are especially noteworthy.

"I was very surprised to hear that I had won the award," Stilson said.

Stilson said being called to the provost's office was a bit unnerving.

"I was wondering what I had done, I couldn't think of anything I had done wrong," Stilson said with a laugh.

Stilson, who has worked at Southeast since 2001, will also serve as grand marshal at the commencement ceremony and will present the Honors Convocation address.