Former Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to speak at MSU graduation

EAST LANSING - A pair of high-profile Michigan State University alumni are slated to speak at graduation events later this spring.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will address advanced degree recipients during their graduation ceremony at 3:30 p.m. on May 3.

Former MSU quarterback Kirk Cousins will speak during the undergraduate convocation at 1 p.m. Both events will take place at the Breslin Student Events Center, 524 Birch Road.

Both events will be live-streamed through MSU’s commencement website.

Whitmer, a Democrat who served as a state representative from 2001 to 2006 and a state senator from 2006 to 2015, was elected Michigan’s 49th governor in November. She holds a bachelor’s degree from MSU and is also a graduate of the MSU College of Law. She will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from MSU at the ceremony.

Cousins, who wore the green and white from 2008 to 2011, finished as the MSU football team’s all-time record-holder in passing touchdowns, passing yards, completions and total offensive production, among other honors. He was selected 102 overall in the 2012 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins and now plays for the Minnesota Vikings. MSU will award Cousins and honorary Doctor of Humanities degree at the ceremony.

William Demmer, CEO of Demmer Holdings Inc, and Reimund Neugebauer, president of Fraunhofer-Gelleschaft, a German research agency, will also receive honorary degrees during the ceremonies.

Bags and purses will not be allowed inside the Breslin Center during the graduation events, MSU said in a news release. Cameras and camcorders are allowed, but cases aren’t. Food and beverages, including bottled water, are also prohibited, as are noisemakers, selfie sticks, pets, signs and weapons. Metal detectors will also be in place to screen attendees.

For more information, go to commencement.msu.edu.

Contact RJ Wolcott at (517) 377-1026 or rwolcott@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @wolcottr.