undergraduate commencement
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Friday, May 22, 2009
12 noon Commencement Rehearsal, Stadium
5 pm Baccalaureate Mass, McKeon Pavilion
Saturday, May 23, 2009
8:45 am Graduates line-up, Practice Field
9:20 am Procession Begins, Stadium
9:30 am Commencement, Stadium
12 noon Individual Receptions, Campus wide
There is No Need To R.S.V.P. for The Baccalaureate or Commencement Ceremonies as there is ample seating available for both ceremonies.
The College hosts an outdoor Commencement ceremony so that we can accommodate our graduates’ families, friends and guests. Commencement is held outside rain or shine. Please come prepared for any kind of weather (warm coats, rain coats, umbrellas, sunscreen, hats, etc.).
Description of events
Commencement Rehearsal
Friday, May 22, 2009 at 12 noon in the stadium
All graduates must attend this practice at 12 noon in the stadium to receive instructions before going through the Commencement Ceremonies. Directions regarding the progression of the event will be given, and the Reader of names will be available for consultation regarding the proper pronunciation of more difficult names. The practice usually runs one hour. Please be punctual.
Baccalaureate Mass
Friday, May 22, 2009 at 5 pm in McKeon Pavilion
Students of all faiths, their families and friends, are cordially invited to participate in this celebration. You do not have to be Roman Catholic to attend. It is a time for giving thanks and praise for gifts given and received while at Saint Mary’s College, and for asking a blessing on the graduates and their future lives.
Graduates will arrive at and enter McKeon Pavilion between 4:30-4:45 pm and go directly to the seats that have been reserved for you. Please be on time. Unlike the Commencement Ceremony, you will not sit in alphabetical order or by academic department. Wear your gown but not the cap or hood. No tickets are needed for this event. Please be mindful that the Baccalaureate Mass is a religious celebration that calls for proper respect and decorum from all in attendance. Graduates should wear “shoes” for the Mass, no “flip flops” (aka “slippers”) due to the hazard that is presented by the tarp on the Pavilion floor.
Commencement Line-up
Saturday, May 23, 2009 at 8:45 am on the Practice Field
Graduates must be lined up by their appropriate schools and in alphabetical order by 8:45 am so that the Commencement can begin on time. The line up will take place on the Practice Field outside of the stadium. You should be in full academic dress: cap, gown, and hood. IMPORTANT: Allow yourself enough time for arrival since both traffic and parking are major challenges on this day. We will not wait for you. If you are late you must line up at the end of the line and your name will be called out of order.
Commencement Ceremony
Saturday, May 23, 2009 at 9:30 am in the stadium
The Commencement is a time to celebrate the culmination of your undergraduate college life. It is a time for sharing with family, friends, faculty, and staff the joy and result of your effort. It is a time to thank those most responsible for helping you arrive at this moment.
Note: The joy and dignity of Commencement make it a memorable event for everyone. None of us want that memory marred by inappropriate conduct. Alcohol is prohibited at the Commencement Ceremony. Also, please remain in your place at the end of the ceremony until the faculty and administration have passed between you down the aisle.
