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05.14.24
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May 14, 2024
Happy Commencement Week!
We are carefully monitoring the weather for Saturday and will make a call about moving the ceremony into the Volpe Center, no later than Friday. Severe weather tickets are available at the Whitaker Campus Center switchboard, which is staffed 24 hours a day.
If you are unable to come to campus until Saturday, the tickets will be available in the Dreiling Seminar Room, lower level Coblentz Hall, beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday. Right now, the weather looks like rain only, and rain is not severe weather.
Tomorrow at noon is the last day to reserve your Strawberry Breakfast ticket at this link. Additional tickets may be purchased at the door. Other details below, including processional details.
Laurie Ward
Vice President for Marketing and Communications
Commencement Programs
Embracing our digital world and our commitment to sustainability, we are transitioning to an online Commencement program. Recognizing the importance a keepsake is to this momentous day, a printed program will be placed on each graduate’s seat at the Commencement ceremony.
A PDF of the commencement program will be available download or viewing on Saturday, May 18. Additional copies of the Commencement program can be ordered here, and will be available for pick-up beginning tomorrow through Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. Programs will not be able to be picked up on Saturday.
Processional Details
I know many of you did not have a normal high school graduation in 2020. If you have any questions, please let me know or ask someone on Saturday. We are here to make sure your day is perfect.
Later this week, you will receive an email with your seat line assignment. There will be lots of volunteers behind Alumnae Hall to help you find your line, assist with your hood (it should kind of look like it's inside out), mortarboard (we'll have bobby pins and safety pins), tassel (it starts on the rights side) and answer any other questions.
The processional will begin at 9:50 a.m., stopping just short of the Pergola until the carillon chimes at 10 o'clock. You will process in two separate lines, through the Pergola, following the marshals, who will direct you to the appropriate row. Fill in all the way. There will be a program and bottle of water on your seat.
When it comes time to walk across the stage, you will walk, row by row, staying in order, to the left side of the stage. Again, we have plenty of volunteers who will be there to help you.
When you get to the top of the ramp, you will wait until your name is called. You'll cross the stage, stop at President Chapdelaine, shakes hands, accept the scroll and pause for a photo. You'll then continue crossing the stage and down the other ramp. At the bottom of the ramp, you'll be directed to another photographer for your official graduation photo. You'll then go back your seat.
When President Chapdelaine declares the commencement ceremony complete, you'll wait in your seats until the platform party recesses and the marshals will excuse your rows in order and you'll process through the Pergola again, this time as alumni!
Schedule of Events
Plan your week leading up to Commencement
Wednesday, May 15
- Doctoral Hooding Ceremony, 5-6:30 p.m. | Coffman Chapel
- Graduate Degree Recipient Reception, 7 p.m. | Coblentz Dining Hall (registration required)
Thursday, May 16
- ROTC Commissioning Ceremony, 1 p.m. | Whitaker Campus Commons
- Senior Luau and Senior Gift Presentation, 5 p.m. | East Cottage
Friday, May 17
- Nursing Pinning Ceremony, 10 a.m. | Coffman Chapel
- Baccalaureate, 1 p.m. | Coffman Chapel
Saturday, May 18
- Strawberry Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m. | Coblentz Dining Hall
- Graduates line up, 9:30 a.m. | Quad, behind Alumnae Hall
- Commencement Ceremony, 10 a.m. | Quad
Commemorative Gifts
Legacy Photos
In the Commencement program, you will be marked as a legacy graduate and this connection along with that alum's name will be announced as you receive your diploma.
After the ceremony is over, we would love for you to meet up with your legacy family member at our Alumni Engagement photographer's "corner" (between Memorial Hall and Coffman Chapel) for a high-quality photo using a custom Hood College Legacy frame prop so you can have a beautiful reminder of the day and your proud Hood legacy story.
If you or your family have any questions about the legacy designation, please reach out to Michelle Burnett at burnettm@hood.edu.