Nearly 50 student veterans were joined by family, friends, university administrators and staff for the budding tradition of recognizing the students before commencement during the fourth Graduating Veterans Stole Ceremony Wednesday, April 13, in Cantrell Hall of the Tom H. Jackson Building.

Keith M. Huber, MTSU senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives and retired U.S. Army lieutenant general, oversaw the ceremony.

MTSU student veteran Ryan DeBooy, second from left, is joined by university President Sidney A. McPhee, left, Provost Brad Bartel and Keith M. Huber, senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives, during the fourth Graduating Veterans Stole Ceremony April 13 in Cantrell Hall of the Tom H. Jackson Building. (MTSU photos by Andy Heidt)

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee, Provost Brad Bartel and Dr. Hilary Miller, director of the Veterans and Military Family Center in Keathley University Center, also provided congratulatory words to students.

Starting with the first Stole Ceremony in May 2015, MTSU began to honor its graduating veterans with a formal ceremony. They receive red stoles to wear during the university’s commencement ceremonies.

MTSU will see 114 student veterans, including several husband-and-wife pairs, graduating in May.

The university begins a new tradition this spring with a separate ceremony for students receiving doctorates, master’s degrees, education specialist degrees and graduate certificates from the College of Graduate Studies at 3 p.m. Friday, May 6.

Commencement ceremonies for undergraduates will be held at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, May 7. For more information, visit www.mtsunews.com/graduation-info.

For more information about the MTSU Veterans and Military Family Center and the Stole Ceremonies, call 615-904-8347.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)

MTSU student veteran Dave Beardsley, left, talks with Dr. Hilary Miller, director of the university’s Veterans and Military Family Center, before the start of the Graduating Veterans Stole Ceremony April 13 in the Tom H. Jackson Building.

Keith M. Huber, MTSU senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives, praises graduating student veterans for achieving their educational goals April 13 during the annual Graduating Veterans Stole Ceremony in the Tom H. Jackson Building.