It was a big weekend for students across the high country as many local colleges held graduation ceremonies. Here in Boone, commencement ceremonies were held Friday through Sunday for each of the 7 colleges that make up Appalachian State. On Friday, students of the Cratis D. Williams graduate School took part in their graduation ceremonies inside the Holmes Convocation Center. The ceremony began at 6pm as graduate students and their guests were shown a video that highlighted the work and research of 4 graduate students. One graduate student was recognized for her hard work as Alexandra Bentz recieved a $30,000 National Science Foundation Research Fellowship for her to persue her Doctorate Degree after recieving her masters degree in Biology at Appalachian. On Saturday, Graduates of the College of Fine and Applied Arts were honored at 9am inside the Convocation Center. Students heard from guest speaker Ryan Mcgee, senior writer for ESPN the Magazine. Mcgee is also a writer for ESPN.com as well as a contributer to NASCA Now, SportsCenter, and ESPNU. Later on at 1pm, the Hayes School of Music held their graduation ceremonies inside the Broyhill Music Center. The ceremony featured guest speaker Dr. Concetta M. Tomaino, executive director and co-founder of the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function and senior vice president for music therapy with CenterLight Health System. Tomaino is internationally known for her research in the clinical applications of music and neurologic rehabilitation. Students of the College of Arts and Sciences and University College took part in graduation exercises at 4pm inside the Convocation Center. Those students were treated to a presentation from guest speaker Dr. Meg Lowman, director of the Nature Research Center at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. Graduation ceremonies kicked off on Sunday with the College of Health Sciences at 9am in the Convocation Center. Students were treated to guest speaker Sallye A. Liner, executive vice president and chief clinical officer with Novant Health. Liner is accountable for the transformation of care for 13 acute care hospital facilities and for driving the development of programs and services that achieve Novant Health’s short and long-term strategic goals. At 12:30pm, graduation ceremonies were held for students with the Reich College of Education in which the audience was presented with a video of highlighted hard work from graduates of the college. Graduation rounded out as students from the Walker College of Business walked across the stage. The ceremony kicked off at 4:30 and featured Appalachian Alumni and Walker Business Graduate  Brad Sparks. Sparks graduated from the college in 1997 and is a director with KPMG International responsible for the accounting firm’s Global Green Initiative. In all, over 2,200 students took part in ceremonies over the weekend at ASU and we here at MTN would like to congratulate all of those on their achievements and wish them the best in their future endeavors.