A record 79 Nevada Wolf Pack student-athletes have applied for graduation at the University of Nevada, Reno this spring and summer.

Ceremonies for the 128th University Commencement are set for this weekend on the University's historic Quadrangle on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 17-19. A reception for graduating student-athletes and their families will be held Thursday morning at the Basin Street Club at Mackay Stadium on campus. Former softball star Britton Murdock Nunn will speak to this year's graduating class of student-athletes.

This year's crop of graduates represent all but one of Nevada's sports programs and is made up of 70 student-athletes and nine members of the Nevada spirit program.

"It's an incredible thrill to see so many Wolf Pack student-athletes and cheer team members earning their degrees," said athletics director Doug Knuth. "On behalf of the entire athletics department, I offer our congratulations to each and every one of them. We are proud of all of them for earning the ultimate goal - a degree from our University."

Graduating Nevada student-athletes are given a special silver and blue sash to wear at Commencement in recognition of their efforts as student-athletes.

Including this spring and summer's graduates, Nevada has seen 937 of its student-athletes graduate in the past 11 years, a figure that includes 19 student-athletes who walked in commencement ceremonies this past December.

Over all, the University's 128th Commencement will confer 3,137 degrees, the largest amount of degrees conferred in one semester. The commencement exercises will take place over four ceremonies in three days - Thursday, May 17; Friday, May 18 and Saturday, May 19 - and will be on the University's historic Quad, located on the southern part of campus. Each ceremony focuses on particular colleges, and both undergraduate and graduate degrees for each of those colleges will be granted.

• 5 p.m. Thursday, May 17: College of Engineering, Orvis School of Nursing and College of Science
• 8 a.m. Friday, May 18: College of Business, School of Community Health Sciences, Division of Health Sciences (Social Work) and School of Medicine (Speech Pathology)
• 5 p.m. Friday, May 18: College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources and College of Education
• 8 a.m. Saturday, May 19: College of Liberal Arts and Reynolds School of Journalism

Free public parking is available in the West Stadium Parking Complex and the Blue and Green surface lots on the north end of campus. Shuttles will be available two hours before each ceremony. The Brian J. Whalen Parking Complex will be available for handicap parking. Due to increased traffic seen around Commencement ceremonies, the public is strongly encouraged to allow extra time and arrive early.

For additional information, including parking maps and directions, please visit unr.edu/commencement.