More than 5,300 Graduates to Receive Degrees during MU’s Spring Commencement Ceremonies

University officials will award honorary degree to Jim Held

May 12, 2014

Story Contact(s):
Jesslyn Chew, ChewJ@missouri.edu

By Jerett Rion

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Beginning Friday, May 16 and continuing through Sunday, May 18, more than 5,300 students will participate in spring commencement exercises at the University of Missouri. University officials also will honor Jim Held, owner and founder of Stone Hill Winery in Hermann, Mo., with an honorary degree.

“The University of Missouri is proud to send students into the workforce knowing that they have gained an education combining world-class research opportunities, extracurricular activities and nationally recognized classroom experiences,” said Ann Korschgen, vice provost for enrollment management at MU. “We know that our graduates will continue to be successful whether they are continuing their education or going into the workforce.”

During commencement weekend, MU will award 5,452 degrees, including 3,814 bachelor’s degrees, 1,009 master’s degrees, 268 doctorates, 128 law degrees, 111 veterinary medicine degrees, 97 medicine degrees and 25 education specialist degrees. Some students will receive more than one degree. More than 270 students are receiving their degrees after completing online degree programs.

Each school and college at MU holds separate ceremonies for commencement, and many invite notable speakers to address the graduates. Angela Greiling Keane, MU alumna and White House correspondent for Bloomberg News, will speak at the School of Journalism ceremony on Friday, May 16.

Other speakers at this year’s commencement ceremonies include:

• University of Missouri System President and MU alumnus Tim Wolfe, who will speak at the College of Arts and Science ceremony on Saturday, May 17;
• Judge Gerald Bard Tjoflat of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, who will speak at the School of Law ceremony on Sunday, May 18;
• Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler of the Missouri Fourth Congressional District, who will speak at the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources ceremony on Sunday, May 18.

Note: A detailed schedule of events and biographical information of the honorary degree recipient, Jim Held, are attached. For more information on the commencement ceremonies and Columbia accommodations, please visit http://commencement.missouri.edu.

 

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MU Spring Commencement

Schedule of Events

 

NOTE: Students in the School of Social Work will participate in the College of Human Environmental Sciences ceremony. Students in the Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs will participate in the Graduate School ceremony for master’s and educational specialist candidates. The School of Natural Resources in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources will hold a separate commencement ceremony.

 

Friday, May 16

College of Veterinary Medicine
1 p.m.
Jesse Auditorium, Jesse Hall
Speaker: Janet Donlin, CEO of AVMA PLIT, an insurance organization that ensures veterinarians have an advocate in the management of their professional liability claims

 

College of Education
2 p.m.
Mizzou Arena
Speaker: Jean Cerra, dean of the School of Human Performance and Leisure Sciences at Barry University and MU alumna

College of Human Environmental Sciences
5 p.m.
Hearnes Center
Speaker: Suzanne Rothwell, president of the Alumni Board of Advisors for the College of Human and Environmental Sciences and MU alumna

 

Sinclair School of Nursing
6 p.m.
Jesse Auditorium, Jesse Hall
Student Speakers: Jacob Wren, bachelor’s candidate; Cassie Gallemore, accelerated bachelor’s candidate; Jo-Ana Chase, doctoral candidate

 

School of Journalism
7:30 p.m.
Mizzou Arena
Speaker: Angela Greiling Keane, White House correspondent for Bloomberg News and MU alumna

 

Saturday, May 17

Honors Ceremony
8:30 a.m.
Mizzou Arena
Speakers: Jim Held, honorary degree recipient  
Jim McKelvey, co-founder of Square, a mobile payments company

 

College of Engineering
1 p.m.
Hearnes Center
Speaker: U.S. Senator for New Mexico and MU alumnus Martin Heinrich, who serves on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources, Intelligence, and Joint Economic Committees.

 

 

School of Health Professions
4 p.m.
Mizzou Arena
Speaker: Richard Oliver, dean emeritus of the School of Health Professions

School of Medicine
noon
Jesse Auditorium, Jesse Hall
Speaker: Alexander Garza, associate dean and associate professor in epidemiology at the St. Louis University College of Public Health and Social Justice and MU alumnus

 

School of Natural Resources
5:30 p.m.
Jesse Auditorium, Jesse Hall
Speaker: Steve Mahfood, former director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources

 

College of Arts and Science
7 p.m.
Hearnes Center
Speaker: University of Missouri System President and MU alumnus Tim Wolfe

Sunday, May 18

College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
10 a.m.
Hearnes Center
Speaker: Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, Missouri Fourth Congressional District

School of Law
12:30 p.m.
Jesse Auditorium, Jesse Hall
Speaker: Judge Gerald Bard Tjoflat, Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

 

ROTC Commissioning of Officers
1 p.m.
Stotler Lounge, Memorial Union

Trulaske College of Business
2 p.m.
Hearnes Center
Speaker: Don Walsworth, CEO of Walsworth Publishing

 

Graduate School (Hooding ceremony for doctoral candidates)
4 p.m.
Jesse Auditorium, Jesse Hall
Speaker: Leona Rubin, director of the MU Graduate School

 

Graduate School (Master’s and Educational Specialist candidates)
7 p.m.
Hearnes Center
Speaker: Leona Rubin, director of the MU Graduate School

Mizzou Online Commencement
Website: online.missouri.edu/commencement

Jim Held Biography

Jim Held has dedicated his life to restoring the once-abandoned Stone Hill Winery of Hermann, Mo., into the oldest and most prestigious winery in the state. Held has helped the winery expand its production and outpace its former glory, all while reinvigorating the wine industry in Missouri and substantially contributing to the state’s economy each year.

Stone Hill was founded in 1847 and was one of the most successful wineries in the country until Prohibition forced an end to its operations in 1919. The winery had fallen into disrepair when Held and his family moved onto the neglected property in 1965. Although Held had never owned or operated a winery before Stone Hill, he and his wife, Betty, painstakingly repaired the grand building and vaulted cellars and brought the winery back to life. They worked tirelessly planting new grape seeds, repairing old buildings, and buying tools and machines to restore the facility, all while raising four children.

Today, 49 years after Held and his family arrived at Stone Hill, the winery produces more than 260,000 gallons of wine annually, employs more than 100 Missourians, and directly contributes more than $7 million to the state’s economy each year.

Along with others in the Missouri wine industry, Stone Hill developed a partnership with the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. The college offers an academic program in viticulture and enology. Through this collaboration, Held has helped train the next generation of wine experts who will further enhance Missouri’s wine economy.

Norton, Missouri’s official state grape and Stone Hill’s signature variety, is just one of the varieties that have elevated winemaking into a $30 million industry for Missouri each year. Held knew that in order for his winery to be successful, he would have to resurrect the Norton grape that previously had fallen victim to Prohibition.

Held’s efforts have returned national and international respect to the Missouri wine industry. Stone Hill Winery has been featured on The Today Show, Nation’s Business Weekly and The Early Show. The Held family was named the 1995 Wine Growing Family of the Year at the Wineries Unlimited 20th anniversary banquet. Held received more accolades in 1997, including the Pioneer Award from the Department of Agriculture’s Missouri Grape and Wine Program, which recognized him for his single-handed restoration of the Missouri wine industry after it was destroyed by Prohibition. Recently, Stone Hill’s dry vignoles won a gold medal at the Monterey Wine Competition, and its Steinberg white was named “Best in Class” at the Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition. Overall, Stone Hill has received more than 3,700 awards and was recognized as Missouri’s Small Business of the Year in 1982.

Stone Hill’s 2011 estate Norton took home a triple crown from the 2013 Missouri Wine Competition. It was the first wine to win both the Governor’s Cup and the C.V. Riley Award for best Norton. It also received the award for best of class dry red.

Held currently serves on the board of Bay-Hermann-Berger Bank. He is the past president of the Hermann Area Chamber of Commerce, Junior Chamber of Commerce and Missouri Vintners Association. In addition, Held was past chair of the Grape and Wine Advisory Board and served on the Missouri Tourism Commission for five years.