Outgoing president John Shumaker received a service award Saturday as he presided over his last University of Louisville commencement.

        More than 1,400 students participated in the afternoon ceremony. Mr. Shumaker, who has been president at the university since 1996, becomes the new president at University of Tennessee next month. Provost Carol Garrison will oversee the university until a new president is appointed.

        On Saturday, Mr. Shumaker received the Minerva Award, which recognizes outstanding service and dedication to UofL and the global community. Louisville mayor Dave Armstrong also presided at the ceremony held at the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center.

        Junior Bridgeman, a 1975 UofL alumnus and current vice chair of the university's board of trustees, received the Outstanding Alumnus Award.

        National media and government officials spoke at several area commencements on Saturday.

        U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao — wife of U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. — encouraged graduates at Campbellsville University to use their education, talent and skills to serve others. More than 250 students walked in the Saturday morning ceremony held at the campus's Tiger Stadium.

        Ms. Chao was presented an honorary doctorate of public administration degree from university officials during the ceremony.

        U.S. Senator Jim Bunning, R-Ky., was the keynote speaker at Lindsey Wilson College's ceremony Saturday morning in Columbia. School officials presented more than 200 degrees during the 77th commencement held at the liberal arts college.

        Mr. Bunning told the graduates to work hard, set goals and have a strong faith in “yourself, God and country.”

        Other commencement ceremonies held Saturday were Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green — which had 1,653 graduates, Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro and Morehead State University in Morehead — which had nearly 850 graduates.

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