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Commencement time is upon us. Let the �鶹ӰԺ University celebrations begin.

�鶹ӰԺ will hold its Commencement at 10 a.m. Sunday, June 15 on Main Hall Green. It will conclude a weekend of festivities, all honoring the accomplishments of the Class of 2025. Graduates, along with family and friends, will gather with faculty, staff, alumni and others from the �鶹ӰԺ community during the most cherished weekend of the academic calendar.

Here are 14 things to know before you go:

1: The graduates: Each member of the class—354 strong—will walk the Commencement stage in front of Main Hall to much-deserved applause. Then, at the close of Commencement, confetti and caps will fly and the graduates will recess through the �鶹ӰԺ Arch, joining an alumni community more than 22,000 strong.

2: Commencement speaker: Campbell Scott ’83, an accomplished actor of stage and screen, will return to campus as the Commencement speaker. He also will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree during Commencement.

3: Baccalaureate speaker: Robert McDonald ’73, a sought-after concert pianist and music educator, will serve as the featured speaker at Saturday’s Baccalaureate service in Memorial Chapel. He also will receive an honorary Doctor of Musical Arts degree during Commencement.

4: Senior class speaker: Bruna Velez ’25, a senior international relations major from New York City, will be the senior class speaker. She said it’s an honor to address her classmates: “These past four years have been transformative, both academically and personally. I wanted the opportunity to thank and acknowledge my fellow classmates because we did it together.”

5: Honoring faculty retirees: Two members of the faculty who are retiring at the close of the academic year will be honored during Commencement. Bart De Stasio ’82, Dennis and Charlot Nelson Singleton Professor of Biological Sciences and professor of biology, and Edmund Kern, associate professor of history, both joined the �鶹ӰԺ faculty in 1992. 

6: Celebrating faculty honors: The annual faculty awards, long a part of Commencement, will honor three faculty members. Honorees will be announced for the Faculty Award for Scholarly Achievement, Excellence in Teaching, and Excellence in Teaching by Early-Career Faculty.

7: The processional: Dressed in full regalia, President Laurie A. Carter will lead the faculty processional, joined by Board of Trustees Chair Scott Myers ’79 and faculty marshal Timothy X. Troy, J. Thomas and Julie E. Hurvis Professor of Theatre and Drama and professor of theatre arts. The faculty will lead the graduates onto Main Hall Green to begin Commencement and will then lead the graduates through the �鶹ӰԺ Arch at the close of Commencement.

8: The bow: As faculty line up near the graduates on the north side of College Avenue, watch for the faculty to bow to the grads. A beloved tradition, it is a moment of shared respect and gratitude before the ceremony begins.

9: Livestream: If you can’t be there in person, you can check out a livestream of Commencement. Find it on the Commencement page on the �鶹ӰԺ website.

10: Senior art: As is tradition, the annual Senior Art Exhibition will be on display throughout Commencement weekend in Wriston Art Center Galleries. It is one more showcase of the talents of the graduating class. It will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

11: Grads in concert: Speaking of talent showcases, the annual Commencement Concert will be held 7:30 p.m. Friday in Memorial Chapel. It features members of the 2025 graduating class. It is free and open to the public.

12: Cookout on Main Hall Green: Graduates, their families, and the �鶹ӰԺ community are invited to join President Carter for a cookout from noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday on Main Hall Green. Look for a performance by the �鶹ӰԺ University Grad Band.

13: Baccalaureate Service: This annual multi-faith celebration for graduates, their families, and the �鶹ӰԺ community will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Memorial Chapel. Robert McDonald ’73 will be the guest speaker.

14: Post-Commencement celebration: The recessional following Commencement will take graduates through the �鶹ӰԺ Arch and east along College Avenue. The graduates will then gather with family, friends, and other supporters on the patio and green space in front of Mudd Library. The arch is now part of a tradition at �鶹ӰԺ: Incoming students process through the arch on their way to the President's Welcome during Welcome Week, signaling their arrival as undergraduates. Graduates then go through the arch following Commencement, signaling the close of their undergraduate studies and the beginning of a new chapter as �鶹ӰԺ alumni.