Author: Carl Olsen (Carl Olsen)

Oatts, who teaches at Temple University, attended Drake before launching his successful career as a professional musician.

Drake President David Maxwell performed a blues ballad with saxophonist Dick Oatts, who received an honorary degree.

Senior Abby Dierks donned a robe first worn by her great grandmother in 1906 and also by her grandfather, Paul Morrison, in 1939.

The final performance of the musical, based on Studs Terkel's book, is set for 8 p.m. at First Unitarian Church.

Alumna Jane Lorentzen will give the keynote address as Drake Law School honors 141 graduates this evening.

Drake will celebrate a total of 1,421 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree recipients in the class of 2010.

Oatts has enjoyed a successful career as a professional jazz saxophonist for more than 30 years and teaches at Temple University in Philadelphia.

Jane Lorentzen, a 1991 graduate of Drake Law School, will focus her speech on "A Time to Lead."

Ron Troyer was Drake's chief academic officer for nine years before becoming senior counselor for international initiatives.

Marina Yakhnis will spend the 2010-11 academic year studying an ethnic group exiled from the Crimean peninsula by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.