A Look at Spring Commencement 2010
Over 670 people are scheduled to participate in Bellevue University’s Spring Commencement on June 5, 2010 at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. While over 500 of those participants are from Nebraska, an estimated 161 are coming in from around the country to celebrate this day.
Behind the scenes, 100 workers and volunteers from the university will spend their Saturday morning, ushering students and faculty, helping with caps and gowns, seating, water, and much more to help make this day memorable and smooth for the participants.
This year’s spring commencement speaker is TD Ameritrade, Inc. founder, J. Joe Ricketts. Ricketts is a former director of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association and his family currently owns the Chicago Cubs major league baseball team. He was Ameritrade’s CEO for nearly two decades and spent a quarter century as Chairman of the Board. He is still a member of the board, along with his son, Pete. Ricketts earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Creighton University and will receive an honorary Doctor of Commerce degree from Bellevue University.
An honorary Doctor of Commerce degree will also be awarded to H. Douglas Riley. The Chairman of Riley Resources, Inc., Mr. Riley is a long-time supporter of Bellevue University and has served on the University’s Board of Directors since 1987. An award-winning industry innovator, Riley purchased DRG Technologies in 1990. The cofounder of Lancer Labels, he developed new production and marketing functions that have become the industry standard. He is currently the Chairman of the Bellevue University Foundation Board. The University’s Riley Technology Center is named in his family’s honor.
The student speaker is the Vice President of Trust Services at Mutual of Omaha Bank, Larry D. Deaver. Deaver will graduate from the Master of Science in Organization Performance degree program. He has titled his remarks, "It’s Never too Late," a reference to his own educational experience which includes a self-described 33-year Spring Break. His college career began three decades ago before marriage, children and a successful career intervened. He returned to the University of Nebraska at Omaha to complete his bachelor’s degree before continuing his education at Bellevue University.
