AMES, Iowa -- Agribusiness entrepreneur and state Board of Regents president Bruce Rastetter will speak at Iowa State University's undergraduate commencement ceremony May 9.
In two other ceremonies over commencement weekend, long-time animal science professor Susan Lamont will address graduate students May 8, and co-founder of a large California veterinary hospital and alumnus James DeLano will speak to veterinary medicine graduates.
Rastetter (hi-res)
Rastetter
A lifelong Iowan, Rastetter grew up on a family farm outside of Iowa Falls. His first entrepreneurial effort after college was a feed management business and many ventures followed. Today, Rastetter is CEO of the Summit Group, which includes operations in agribusiness, production agriculture, renewable energy and international development. Rastetter has served on the Board of Regents since 2011 and has been president for nearly two years.
Lamont (hi-res)
Lamont
Lamont has been an ISU faculty member in the animal science department for more than 30 years and currently is a C.F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She leads an active research program with an emphasis on determining the molecular genetic control of important biological traits. Lamont has won numerous awards for her research and service from Iowa State and scientific organizations.
DeLano (hi-res)
DeLano
DeLano grew up in Chicago and pursued veterinary medicine at Iowa State in the 1980s. Seeking funds to attend a conference of the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association, DeLano and a friend founded the SCAVMA Scamper, a race-with-your-dog fundraiser that remains an Ames community favorite. He is co-founder of the Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center, San Ramon, a veterinary hospital that cares for more than 17,000 pets each year.
Commencement ceremonies
- Graduate College, 8 p.m., Friday, May 8, Hilton Coliseum
- College of Veterinary Medicine, noon, Saturday, May 9, Stephens Auditorium
- Undergraduate, 1:30 p.m., Saturday, May 9, Hilton Coliseum