Nearly 3,600 graduates and degree candidates will be in Washington Grizzly Stadium on Saturday for the University of Montana's 117th commencement ceremonies.

Vice President for Integrated Communications Peggy Kuhr said the address will be delivered by Montana's governor.

"We'll have Governor Steve Bullock deliver the commencement address," Kuhr said. "As part of the ceremony Steve will have guests on the dais who will receive honorary doctorates. They will be Terry Payne, owner of Terry Payne Insurance, along with Jack Poe, who is CEO and chairman of the semi-conductor company Semtech."

Kuhr said the university is anticipating an increased enrollment in the fall.

"What we're looking at is the number of inquiries and then the number of applications that are coming in for new students for the fall semester," Kuhr said. "Those numbers are higher than they were at this time last year, but how that translates into the actual number of students, we never know until they're actually here. But, what we are expecting is a larger incoming class of freshmen and transfer students than we've had in the last couple of years."

Events kick off at 7:30 a.m. with a free continental breakfast for degree candidates, graduates, their families and faculty hosted by UM President Royce Engstrom in the University Center Atrium.

The general ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. in Washington-Grizzly Stadium. The stadium opens at 8 a.m., and guests should be seated in the westside seating area by 9:30 a.m. No tickets are required.

Vice President for Integrated Communications Peggy Kuhr

More From Newstalk KGVO 1290 AM & 98.3 FM