More than 2,640 MTSU students joined their family, friends, professors and other supporters in Murphy Center May 11 to celebrate one of their greatest and most challenging accomplishments: earning a university degree.

And for the first time in its history, MTSU bestowed honorary doctorates on two of its most esteemed alumni: former Congressman Bart Gordon and the late Nobel laureate James M. Buchanan.

Gov. Bill Haslam told the graduates at the morning ceremony of MTSU’s spring 2013 commencement exercises that Tennessee needs their “brainpower” and “work ethic.” Afternoon speaker Pete Fisher, an MTSU alumnus and vice president/general manager for the Grand Ole Opry, encouraged the graduates to remember and exercise the values that helped them reach such a pinnacle.

Get more details about MTSU’s spring 2013 commencement at mtsunews.com/spring-commencement-2013.