This story was excerpted from an article by the Office of the Provost. Read the full story.

As Auburn University prepares to celebrate its spring 2024 graduates, the institution has announced that two of its most distinguished alumni — seven-time Olympic Medalist, former Auburn swimmer and Zimbabwe Sports Minister Kirsty Coventry, and business icon and renowned philanthropist Phillip McWane — will address more than 5,000 graduates and their families during the university’s spring commencement ceremonies, scheduled for May 3-6 in Neville Arena.

McWane, a prominent business and industry leader, is chairman of McWane, Inc., an Alabama-based manufacturer focused on creating high-quality products that deliver clean drinking water around the world.

“In addition to being remarkable leaders whose work has made a profound difference in the world, Kirsty Coventry and Phillip McWane are living embodiments of the Auburn Creed and personify the ideals we strive to instill in all of our graduates,” said President Christopher B. Roberts. "I’m grateful our students will have the opportunity to hear from such exceptional leaders who have such a special connection to our campus.”

McWane ('80 industrial management) has dedicated more than three decades to steering McWane, Inc. As a global leader in crafting ductile iron products, McWane, Inc. plays a critical role in delivering safe and clean water worldwide. Under his leadership, the multi-billion-dollar enterprise has become synonymous with safety, sustainability and ethically responsible practices. The company’s products, renowned for their superior quality and reliable performance, have significantly enhanced community infrastructure across the world.

As chairman, McWane oversees more than 6,000 employees in 25 manufacturing locations worldwide, including the US, Canada, China, India and Australia. As the fourth-generation leader of McWane, Inc., the Birmingham, Alabama native manages the company’s extensive product portfolio, which includes ductile pipes, soil pipes, valves, fittings, fire hydrants, fire extinguishers, pressure vessels and poles.

In addition to fostering an organizational philosophy founded on core values of safety and environmental performance, McWane, Inc. is known for its company culture that prioritizes communication, relationships and work performance — a culture known as “The McWane Way.” The organization’s emphasis on environmental stewardship and principled operations has successfully integrated sustainable practices and responsible business conduct, promoting a safe workforce and establishing industry standards in the process.

Beyond his business endeavors, McWane is a noted philanthropist and children’s advocate. He has served on the boards of Children’s Hospital of Alabama, the Sloss Furnaces Foundation, the McWane Science Center, the PreSchool Partners Advisory Board and the Birmingham Business Alliance Executive Committee. He actively participates in the Birmingham Rotary Club and is a member of Leadership Alabama.

"I received such a well-rounded education at Auburn University that I've often been complemented as being an engineer and sometimes accused of being a lawyer,” said McWane. “I'm neither. I'm well rounded."

Coventry will deliver the commencement address on Friday, May 3, to the Graduate School (5 p.m.) and on Saturday, May 4 during the combined ceremonies for the Colleges of Agriculture; Architecture, Design and Construction; Human Sciences and Nursing (8 a.m.) and the Colleges of Education; Forestry, Wildlife and Environment and Sciences and Mathematics (1 p.m.).

McWane will deliver the commencement address during the May 4 ceremony for the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering (6 p.m.) and on Sunday, May 5 for the College of Liberal Arts (1 p.m.) and the Harbert College of Business (6 p.m.). 

Additional information is available on the commencement website, including a live stream link for those unable to attend and the commencement Facebook and Instagram accounts.

For questions, email commencement@auburn.edu.

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The Harbert College of Business which is celebrating the 10th anniversary of Raymond and Kathryn Harbert's transformational naming gift, is a nationally ranked hub of undergraduate, graduate and continuing business education that is inspiring the next generation of business leaders. Our world-class faculty deliver unparalleled academic rigor in the classroom, while our research-driven scholarship advances thought leadership and best practice across business disciplines. The largest college on Auburn's campus, Harbert enrolls more than 6,900 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students.