Ohio Northern University will celebrate its 131st Raabe College of Pharmacy Commencement Ceremony in the Sports Center on Sunday, May 10, at 9 a.m.

To commemorate the event, Ohio Sen. Dave Burke, a 1990 ONU pharmacy graduate, will deliver the commencement address for the pharmacy program and receive an honorary degree. Lydia (Weaver) Bailey, a graduating sixth-year pharmacy major from Columbus, Ohio, will deliver the student address.

Burke, who represents the families and communities of Ohio’s 26th Senate District, which includes all of Union, Crawford, Marion, Morrow, Sandusky, Seneca and Wyandot counties, was elected to Marysville City Council in 2002 and became vice president of the council in 2005. In 2008, he was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives and was re-elected in 2010. While in the House, Burke pushed for legislation – now law – that addresses the growing problem of prescription drug abuse in Ohio and helps keep synthetic drugs out of the hands of young Ohioans. As a member of the Ohio Senate, Burke puts his extensive knowledge and expertise of the health care industry to work as chairman of the Medicaid Committee. He also serves as a member of the Agriculture Committee, Finance Committee, Government Oversight and Reform Committee, Financial Institutions Committee, and Rules and Reference Committee.

Burke has been recognized numerous times for his work in the legislature. He was named Legislator of the Year in 2012 by NAMI Ohio and recently by the Ohio Association of Election Officials. He also has been recognized by the Ohio Pharmacists Association (2012 Good Government Award), the Ohio Psychological Association (2012 Public Service Award), Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging (2011 Elected Official Advocacy Award), and Voices for Ohio’s Children (Champion for Children’s Healthcare).

Since 1997, Burke and his wife, Donna, have owned and operated Dave’s Pharmacy in Marysville, Ohio. They have been married more than 20 years and have two children, Alexandra and Adam. The Burkes are leadership supporters of the college and University and are annual members of the Lehr Society.

Burke’s volunteerism includes being the keynote speaker for ONU’s White Coat Ceremony and guest speaker for various student organizations, including NCPA, where he has participated in legislative advocacy initiatives. In addition, Burke has supported the medicinal gardens and The Northern Fund. The College of Pharmacy honored him in 2012 with a Distinguished Alumni Award.

Doors to the ONU Sports Center will open for the Pharmacy Commencement Ceremony Sunday at 7:30 a.m. Guests should arrive by 8 a.m. The musical prelude will begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by the procession of faculty and students.