Tester to speak at Northern graduation

Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester of Big Sandy will speak to graduates of Montana State University-Northern Saturday.

Graduates will proceed into the Armory Gymnasium at 10 a.m. for the ceremonies.

School officials said the exact number of graduates won't be known until later this week.

Interim Chancellor Greg Kegel will preside at the ceremonies.

Doors will open at 9 a.m. for people wishing to see the ceremonies. There will be no reserved seating. People are asked to use the north-central entrance.

Tester is a longtime supporter of Northern and public education.

A third-generation Montana farmer, his mother is a Northern graduate.

He was a Big Sandy teacher and later became a school board member before his election to the Montana Senate, where he eventually became president.

He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006, upsetting incumbent Conrad Burns.