By Anne Button

When Metro State seniors receive their diplomas amid the pomp and circumstance of commencement on May 15, a record-high number of students of color will be among the graduates.

The 380 graduation candidates of color represent a 41 percent increase over the 269 graduates of color last spring. They also make up 23.4 percent of the total 1,625 students expected to graduate. Last year students of color were 18.7 percent of the graduating class.

The 2011 graduating class is diverse in other ways as well, ranging in age from 20 to 66. Females represent 59 percent of the candidates, males 41 percent. Ten percent will be receiving their degrees with honors: Three percent cum laude, three percent magna cum laude, and four percent summa cum laude.

The top 10 majors represented in the class of 2011 are criminal justice, biology, psychology, behavioral science, management, speech communications, English, history, human performance and sport, and accounting.

Read about Congressman Jared Polis, the spring 2011 commencement speaker.

Click below for more information on commencement:
http://www.mscd.edu/commencement/index.shtml.

View the commencement ceremony live online:
http://www.mscd.edu/streaming/webcast/.