Athens State University commencement planned for May 4th

 

For Further Information

Guy McClure

Guy.McClure@athens.edu

For immediate release

April 26, 2013

www.athens.edu

Athens State University commencement planned for May 4th

                Athens, Ala. –  Athens State University’s graduation exercises will be held in the Carter Physical Education Gymnasium on Saturday, May 4 with three separate ceremonies.  

At 9:00 a.m., the College of Arts and Sciences will commence with Jon Prusmack addressing the attendees.

Prusmack attended the University of Notre Dame for two years on a football scholarship studying architecture.  He then transferred to the United States Naval Academy, and then to New York University where he graduated in 1966 with a degree in Art and Design. In addition, Prusmack earned an M.Eng from NYU Polytechnic Institute and an M.B.A. from Bernard Baruch Graduate School of Business, part of the City University of New York.

Prusmack played rugby for 15 years and wrote the first American Coaching Book on Rugby titled Rugby: A Guide for Players, Coaches and Spectators.

Prusmack has been a professional artist and designer for over 30 years as well as a successful entrepreneur. He started DHS Technologies with his wife, Patrice, in 1986. Together they built this business from zero up to over $150,000,000. Currently DHS has a major manufacturing plant in Huntsville employing 200 people. Its second manufacturing plant in New York will relocate to Huntsville and employ at least another 150 people.

At 12:00 noon, the College of Business will present diplomas to their graduates with Joe H. Ritch serving as the college’s keynote speaker. 

Ritch, from Huntsville, holds a B.A. from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, a J.D. from Samford University, and a LL.M. in Taxation from New York University.

As a member of the legal team at Sirote and Permutt, Ritch is well-known throughout the region for his high profile work as Chairman of the Tennessee Valley BRAC Committee and its efforts on behalf of Redstone Arsenal.  He was recently appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate as a member of the Board of Directors of TVA.  He is only second Alabamian to serve on the board in its 80 year history.  He also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama System from 2005-2011 and remains a Trustee emeritus of the University System.

               Ritch has an equally active career as an attorney in Sirote's Huntsville office, where he co-chairs the Privacy & Data Security and Government Contracting Practice Groups.

At 3:00 p.m., the College of Education’s graduation ceremony will be held with Representative Jay Love serving as the keynote speaker.

Love represents Alabama’s 74^th District.  He chairs the Ways and Means Education committee which oversees K-12 and higher education appropriations, and taxes and education/benefits for state educators.  He also serves on the Montgomery County Legislation.

Love was born and raised in Montgomery and holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Auburn University at Montgomery.  As a restaurant owner, he was selected as one of the Top 40 Business Leaders Under 40 by the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce.

Approximately 300 students will march, encompassing the graduating classes for the three colleges for the 2013 spring semester. 

Athens State's commencement ceremonies are free and open to the public.  For more information call 256-233-8296.

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