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PSU, MSSU to hold graduation ceremonies this weekend

The first of four graduation ceremonies will take place tomorrow afternoon at Pittsburg State. On Saturday, Missouri Southern in Joplin will hold its 79th commencement ceremony. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.

Friday’s graduation ceremonies at Pitt State are the first that Dan Shipp will preside over as president of the university. Shipp was hired in April to take over for the retiring Steve Scott. Four graduation ceremonies in all will take place Friday at the Plaster Center and Weede Gymnasium.

The first ceremony starts at 3:30 pm, followed by service at 5, 6:30, and 8. All four ceremonies will be live-streamed at no cost at Pittstate.tv.Missouri Southern will hold one graduation ceremony this Saturday, December 17, at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center, starting at 10 am. MSSU will also live stream the event on their YouTube page.

Tickets are required to watch graduation in person at Pittsburg State. MSSUdoes not require RSVPs or tickets to enter, and there is no limit on the number of guests who attend. Neither university requires masks. There is no cost for parking during graduation at PSU or MSSU. For 89 9 KRPS, I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro

Since 2017 Fred Fletcher-Fierro has driven up Highway 171 through thunderstorms, downpours, snow, and ice storms to host KRPS’s Morning Edition. He’s also a daily reporter for the station, covering city government, elections, public safety, arts, entertainment, culture, sports and more. Fred has also spearheaded and overseen a sea change in programming for KRPS from a legacy classical station to one that airs a balance of classical, news, jazz, and cultural programming that better reflects the diverse audience of the Four States. For over two months in the fall of 2022 he worked remotely with NPR staff to relaunch krps.org to an NPR style news and information website.

In the fall of 2023 Fred was promoted to Interim General Manager and was appointed GM in Feburary of 2024.