Devon Watts of Blue Ridge graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in marketing from James Madison University during the Dec. 15, 2012, commencement exercises.

Jonathan Alger, who presided over his first commencement exercises as president of the university, conferred degrees to 782 graduates. Marine Corps Maj. Justin Constantine, an Iraq War veteran and advocate for the Wounded Warrior Project, spoke at the ceremony in Harrisonburg.

James Madison University is a comprehensive university that is part of the statewide system of public higher education in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is the only university in America named for President James Madison. Established March 14, 1908, the university offers programs on the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels with its primary emphasis on the undergraduate student. JMU provides a total education to students – one that has a broad range of the liberal arts as its foundation and encompasses an extensive variety of professional and pre-professional programs, augmented by a multitude of learning experiences outside the classroom.

– Submitted by JMU