After innumerable trips to the bookstores, hundreds of late-night pizza orders and hopefully at least one Campaniling experience, graduating seniors will soon put Iowa State behind them.

On Saturday, May 10, about 2,100 undergraduates will receive bachelor’s degrees during a 2 p.m. ceremony in Hilton Coliseum.

International opera star and Iowa native Simon Estes will be the featured commencement speaker. He will perform the national anthem and one other song during the ceremony.

Estes also will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from ISU for his “extraordinary achievements in operatic music, philanthropy and generosity to disadvantaged children.”

Estes grew up in Centerville and has performed with nearly every major international opera company. “It’s a special treat for Iowa State for him to come,” said Deb Lettow, commencement coordinator in the Registrar’s Office.

Also speaking at the ceremony will be ISU President Martin Jischke. After his speech, Jischke will confer the degrees on this spring’s graduates.

The largest group of graduates is from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, with 612 students receiving diplomas. In the other colleges: 397 students will graduate from the College of Engineering; 352 students from the College of Agriculture; 274 from the College of Business; 191 from the College of Design; 166 from the College of Education and 137 from the College of Family and Consumer Sciences.

The final count of graduates will be available two weeks after the ceremony.

The College of Veterinary Medicine graduation ceremony will also take place on May 10. Merry Crimi, president of the American Animal Hospital Association, will speak at the ceremony, which will be held at noon in C.Y. Stephens Auditorium. Ninety-one students will receive veterinary-medicine degrees.

At 8 p.m. on Friday, May 9, also in Stephens Auditorium, 260 students will receive master’s degrees and 90 students will receive doctorate degrees during the graduate and professional ceremony.

James Roth, distinguished professor of veterinary medicine at ISU, will give the commencement address.

Students in all colleges and their families and guests are invited to a pre-ceremony lunch buffet in the Scheman Building on May 10.

Serving for the College of Engineering will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the first floor lobby. Serving for all other colleges will take place from noon to 1 p.m. in the second floor lobby.

Buffet tickets cost $12 for adults and $6 for children ages 3-12. Reservations should be made by the end of today with the Student Alumni Association Office in the Memorial Union.

Susan Sand, who will graduate with a degree in transportation/logistics, said she doesn’t have any big plans for celebrating graduation. “I’m just going to get together with my friends, but not at the bars,” she said.

“My roommate and I are going to have friends and family over at our apartment on Saturday,” said Nicole Jensen, a senior in exercise and sport science.

Jensen said she is not worried about ISU graduation traditions like running around Lake LaVerne or Campaniling. “I’m not planning on anything like that. I’m just getting out of here,” she said.