The 149th annual commencement ceremonies recognize students who complete degree requirements at the end of spring semester.

Former White House chief of staff Andrew Card Jr. was the university's keynote speaker. Card, who served as chief of staff for President George W. Bush, received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Ball State President Jo Ann M. Gora.

Among those joining Gora and Card for the 10 a.m. graduation exercises were former Indiana first lady Judy O'Bannon and Hoosier civil rights advocate and author Hurley Goodall.

O'Bannon, widow of the late Indiana Gov. Frank O'Bannon, was presented with an honorary doctor of humanities degree, while Goodall - a former Indiana state representative and currently a visiting scholar in Ball State's Center for Middletown Studies - also received an honorary doctor of laws degree.

Past Ball State president John Pruis and his wife, Angeline, shared the commencement dais as this year's recipients of the President's Medal of Distinction, awarded annually to "individuals who have made significant and unselfish contributions to the advancement of the university, the community, the state or the nation."

The honorary degree and the President's Medal of Distinction are the highest awards presented by the university.