Ohio State to graduate a record 9,700

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio State University says nearly 9,700 diplomas will be given out this weekend, a spring commencement record at what is one of the nation’s largest universities.

Ohio State officials say the class of 2011 beats the size of last year’s class by more than 1,000 graduates. The class of 2010 also was a record breaker.

Students will receive their degrees Sunday after a commencement address by Ohio congressman and U.S. House Speaker John Boehner.

The university says all students will be handed their degrees personally by their deans, during a ceremony expected to last two and a-half hours. Most graduates will be divided into 11 lines to receive their diplomas.

Sunday’s National Weather Service forecast for Columbus calls for sunshine and a high of 79 degrees.