Bryant University awarded advanced degrees to 187 people on Thursday, including a doctor, nurses and hospital administrators who have earned a specialized MBA degree, the university has announced.

The 17 Lifespan employees were recognized during a commencement ceremony for the Graduate School of Business on the Bryant campus. Delivering the keynote address was Lisa Churchville, president and general manager of WJAR NBC 10 Providence/New Bedford. She was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters. Churchville holds a bachelor’s degree from Barnard College and a master of business administration from Harvard University.

Another honorary degree, a doctorate of business administration, was awarded to Ernest A. Almonte, Rhode Island’s auditor general since 1994. He graduated from Bryant in 1978 with a bachelor of science in business administration degree and, in 1985, earned a master of science degree in taxation. He was named to Accounting Today’s list of 100 Most Influential People in the Accounting Profession in 2005 and 2008.

Bryant’s undergraduate commencement will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday. It may be viewed live on the school’s Web site at http://media.bryant.edu/Mediasite/Catalog/

The names of graduates are posted on projo.com, at http://www.projo.com/education/graduations/bryant_university_popup.htm#graduate_commencement