The University of Nevada, Reno's Winter Commencement will take place Saturday, Dec. 5 at Lawlor Events Center to recognize August and December graduates. A total of 1,604 degrees- 1,239 bachelor's degrees and 365 advanced degrees or certificates (master's and doctoral degrees) - will be awarded.

Graduating students - the youngest being 19 years old and the oldest graduate at 75 years old - and faculty leaders will assemble at 8 a.m., and the ceremony procession will begin at 8:15 a.m. University President Marc Johnson will deliver welcoming remarks and the commencement speaker for the ceremony will be Amber Joiner, Nevada assemblywoman and 1998-1999 president of the Associated Students of the University of Nevada.

The University awarded 1,475 degrees at the December 2014 ceremony, and a total of 3,929 degrees were granted last academic year. Milestones that have been reached in the past year include record graduation numbers (nearly 4,000 in 2014-2015); retention (81 percent freshman-to-sophomore retention in 2014-2015); enrollment (a record 20,898 students in fall 2015), diversity (35 percent of enrolled students are from underrepresented groups) and National Merit and Presidential Scholars (more than 350 in fall 2015).

Public parking is available in the West Stadium Parking Complex, directly north of Lawlor Events Center, as well as the Brian J. Whalen Parking Complex. The 15th Street entrance to campus, off Virginia Street, will close at 7 a.m. and will be accessible for special guests only. Due to current world events, heightened security is in place for the ceremony. Guests are asked not to bring any items into the event that cannot be searched. Wrapped gifts are an example of this.

The University encourages the public to arrive and park early. Updates about the University's 2015 Winter Commencement will be made to the website throughout the week, including any information about potential weather delays. For those not able to attend the ceremony, a livestream of the event will be available once the ceremony begins at unr.edu/live. Join the online conversation during commencement and use #PackPride when posting to social media.

Additional Commencement Week Events:

Wednesday, Dec. 2
3-5 p.m.: Honors Convocation, Joe Crowley Student Union, Milt Glick Ballroom A.

For more information, contact Tamara Valentine at 775-784-1455 or tvalenti@unr.edu.

Thursday, Dec. 3
6-8 p.m.: Senior Scholar Awards Reception, Joe Crowley Student Union, Milt Glick Ballroom C.
The University of Nevada, Reno and its Alumni Association are proud to recognize elite graduates with one of the most prestigious awards at the University of Nevada, Reno, the Senior Scholar distinction. The top graduating student and his or her faculty mentor from each school and college are honored during the awards reception.

For more information, contact Liz Wesseling at 775-682-5967 or eawes@unr.edu.

Friday, Dec. 4
9 a.m.-noon: Orvis School of Nursing Convocation, Joe Crowley Student Union, Milt Glick Ballrooms.
Orvis School of Nursing honors its graduating class by pinning, hooding and presenting awards for the graduating undergraduate, masters and doctorate students.

For more information, contact Sharon Muldoon at 775-682-7166 or smuldoon@unr.edu.