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AUBURN — Mary Michelle Stokes, of Jemison, Alabama, has been selected as a Student Marshal for the College of Human Sciences in Auburn University’s spring 2021 commencement ceremony, scheduled for April 30-May 1.

Stokes will be receiving a bachelor’s degree in apparel merchandising, design and production management and a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Each college enlists a committee to select a student marshal who best represents the values and level of excellence within the college and carry its flag at the front of the commencement procession.

“The College of Human Sciences is honored to have Mary Michelle represent our college at the commencement ceremony,” said Dean Susan Hubbard. “When you consider her involvement, she is someone who took full advantage of every opportunity presented to her as a student at Auburn. Her leadership in the classroom, in various honor societies and in volunteer work makes her highly deserving of this honor. Fellow graduates see her as a leader and current students will continue to benefit from her influence and involvement. We wish her the best as she continues to succeed in the apparel merchandising industry and beyond.”

Stokes was a member of Kappa Omicron Nu within the College of Human Sciences, served as an undergraduate teaching assistant, ambassador for the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business, completed an internship, served on the executive board of her sorority, was chosen for top 20 Miss Auburn and top 20 Miss Homecoming, served as a project coordinator for IMPACT, volunteered with The Big Event and was a member of several honor societies, including Phi Kappa Phi.

After graduation, Stokes will be working as an assistant buyer for Neiman Marcus, while working towards a Master of Business Administration.

Auburn’s commencement will once again take place in Jordan-Hare Stadium, contingent on current health and safety guidelines and weather. In place of larger ceremonies that combine multiple colleges and schools, graduates will participate in individual college and school ceremonies in Jordan-Hare.

The university will kick off its graduation weekend with a commencement address from Auburn alumnus Kenneth Kelly at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 30. Open to all graduates and families, the event will also recognize the spring marshals and include the formal conferral of degrees by the Board of Trustees. The commencement address will be immediately followed by the Graduate School ceremony, with guests seated in the stands to allow for physical distancing and access to Pat Dye Field limited to master’s and doctoral graduates and guests only.

Beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 1, the university will host 10 undergraduate ceremonies at assigned times throughout the day. On Monday, May 3, the university will host ceremonies in Auburn Arena for graduates from the Harrison School of Pharmacy at 1 p.m. and the College of Veterinary Medicine at 6 p.m. Plans for the spring ceremonies come as the university continues to monitor health scenarios associated with COVID-19. All graduates and guests are required to adhere to all safety protocols, posted on the commencement website.

Contingency plans have been developed in the event of changes to existing COVID-19 regulations or severe weather. These plans include continuing the ceremonies if light rain occurs, adjusting the schedule as needed, and in the event of inclement weather, transitioning the ceremonies to Auburn Arena where they will be livestreamed without guests. Additional information is available on the commencement website, and information will be posted on the university’s commencement Facebook and Instagram accounts.