STILLWATER — Oklahoma State University celebrated a historic milestone with its 150th commencement ceremonies on May 9-10 inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.
The ceremonies marked the first commencement presided over by OSU President Jim Hess, who was named the university’s 20th president earlier this year. The event featured Oklahoma House of Representatives Speaker Kyle Hilbert, a proud Cowboy alumnus, as the keynote speaker.
Hilbert, who represents House District 29, became the youngest House speaker in Oklahoma history at age 30. He earned his bachelor’s degree in agribusiness and his MBA from OSU, where he served as Student Government Association president. Since his election to the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Hilbert authored more than 40 bills signed into law, championing infrastructure improvements, education funding reforms and greater budget transparency for the state.
The 150th commencement not only celebrated the achievements of the 2025 graduating class but also reflected on OSU’s rich legacy as a landgrant institution.
The university was created on Christmas Eve, 1890, when Territorial Gov. George W. Steele signed legislation establishing Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College in Payne County. Classes began on Dec. 14, 1891, inside the Stillwater Congregational Church, as the fledgling college had no buildings, books or formal curriculum. By 1896, OAMC celebrated its first six graduates.
“While pursuing my master’s after the military, one of my graduate instructors asked if I’d be interested in pursuing my Ph.D.,” he said. “I really enjoy thinking about all of the different ways you can approach solving a problem and being able to do something about solving real-world problems through research.”
“This experience has been the most mentally and psychologically challenging thing I’ve had to tackle in my life. I saw everything my dad went through to achieve his lifelong goal of earning his Ph.D., and he was always there to encourage me to keep going — and that helped me through some of the toughest parts of this journey. He and I are similar in many ways, so I knew he understood the struggles and joys of crossing that finish line and getting that degree.”
Saturday morning’s exercises recognized students from the College of Arts and Sciences. The afternoon consisted of ceremonies for the Spears School of Business, the College of Education and Human Sciences, and the Ferguson College of Agriculture.
The College of Veterinary Medicine, Graduate College, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, and College of Professional Studies held their ceremonies on Friday.
OSUIT held its ceremony on April 18. OSUTulsa will hold its commencement ceremony on Monday, while OSUOklahoma City held its graduation on Friday.
The OSU Center for Health Sciences and OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine held its ceremonies Saturday at the Mabee Center on the Oral Roberts University campus.
