Kelsie Pedone, a resident of Granite Bay, received a bachelor of arts in advertising during the December 2012 Southern Methodist University commencement ceremony. After the university-wide commencement, SMU's schools and departments held individual receptions throughout the day to honor graduates.

SMU is a nationally ranked private university in Dallas founded 100 years ago. Today, SMU enrolls nearly 11,000 students who benefit from the academic opportunities and international reach of seven degree-granting schools.