POTSDAM –The State University of New York at Potsdam will honor more than 830 undergraduate and graduate students as they receive their degrees during the college's 177th Commencement May 21 and 22.

The Master's Commencement ceremony will take place at 10:15 a.m. Saturday, May 21 in Hosmer Concert Hall at SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music. 181 graduate students are expected to receive their master's degrees.

Dr. William J. Amoriell, Class of 1968 and Dean Emeritus of The School of Education and Professional Studies, is featured speaker.

The Bachelor's Commencement is at 10:15 a.m. Sunday, May 22 in the Academic Quad. 652 graduates are expected to turn their tassels and pick up bachelor's degrees that day.

If the forecast on Sunday is not good, the ceremony will be moved to the Jerry Welsh Gymnasium in Maxcy Hall, with one ceremony at 10 a.m. and another at 2 p.m. This decision will be made on Thursday, May 19. Because the number of participants in the Bachelor's Commencement ceremony has now reached over 600, the college will hold two ceremonies in case of inclement weather. Graduates could choose which ceremony, morning or afternoon, they would participate in, and will be allowed to bring an unlimited number of guests.

Allen Schoer, Class of 1971, founder and CEO of The TAI Group, will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in recognition of his successful career as an actor, consultant and entrepreneur, and his advocacy for liberal arts education at the bachelor's ceremony. Schoer will also deliver the keynote address.

For more information, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/commencement/index.cfm.