(WARRENSBURG, Mo.) – The University of Central Missouri will conduct its 2015 Spring Commencement exercises this weekend, increasing the number of ceremonies from three to five.

Nearly 1,800 students have met graduation requirements for spring semester, and are eligible to participate in events in the Multipurpose Building, according to a news release.

Graduation festivities this week feature two ceremonies on Friday and three on Saturday. The College of Health, Science, and Technology begins the weekend festivities by honoring its graduate students at 2:30 p.m. and undergraduates at 6:30 p.m.

The evening event on Friday also includes the presentation of the Distinguished Service Award to Illinois resident Fred A. Manuele, an author, certified safety professional and a registered professional engineer who serves as president Hazards Limited, a company he formed. He is an active member of the UCM Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Board for Safety Sciences.

He has provided free webinars for students and has collaborated on several scholarly endeavors with other advisory board members and UCM faculty. His recent works are significantly impacting the safety profession and challenging old ways of thinking.

Each ceremony on Saturday includes both undergraduates and graduate students who have met their degree requirements. Ceremonies on Saturday are as follows: College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, 9 a.m.; College of Education and individuals in the THRIVE (Transformation, Health, Responsibility, Independence, Vocation and Education) program, noon; and Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies, 3 p.m.

UCM President Charles Ambrose will present the commencement address at each ceremony, and other university awards will be presented according to the college the award recipient represents. The Charno Award honoring the top citizens of the senior class will recognize the accomplishments of Aubrey Winn, a public relations major from Columbia, at 9 a.m., and Tyler Shepard, an elementary education major from Sedalia, at noon.

Also at noon, the Byler Distinguished Faculty Award, the top award presented annually to a UCM faculty member, will honor Patricia Antrim. Antrim has devoted approximately 20 years to UCM, including current service since 2005 as professor and chair of Educational Leadership and Human Development, and since 2002 as coordinator of Library Science and Information Services.

To learn more about spring 2015 commencement at UCM, visit ucmo.edu/commencement/. The site includes information about activities such as receptions and a link to watch the ceremonies via live streaming video.