The Graduate Diploma and Awards Ceremony will take place on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. in the Athletic Complex Field House. This year's guest speaker will be announced at a later date. A reception in Simon Hall for graduates and their guests will immediately follow the ceremony.

Arrival and Seating
The ceremony will begin promptly at 3:00 p.m. Plan to arrive at the Field House no later than 2:30 p.m.

First, pick up your name card at the graduate check-in table just inside the main entrance of the Athletic Complex. The card has two purposes: it shows your name as it will be read during the ceremony and your mailing address where the photographer will mail any photos that you may order. Please confirm the accuracy of your name and post-graduation address, noting any corrections. See information for All Grads.

Then, proceed downstairs and follow the signs to the recreational gym. You do not need to take a program as one will be provided at your seat. Signs and volunteers will direct you into a line for the procession. You should plan to be in line by 2:45 p.m. There is no need for the line to be in alphabetical order, and MBA, PMBA, and MS in Finance graduates may be mixed.

Students will process into the auditorium in two lines, following the pattern on the floor map, see Ceremony Map (*PDF 61K).

The Ceremony
After a brief welcome, Dean Gupta will introduce your elected student speaker. Following his/her speech, Dean Gupta will introduce your guest speaker, who will follow with the Olin commencement address.

Following the commencement addresses, student awards will be presented. Students receiving awards should walk up to the stage to receive their award after their name has been called. Please use the stairs to your right as you are facing the stage. After receiving your award, continue walking across the stage, exiting on the left, and return to your seat. The Reid Teaching Awards will be presented next.

Conferring of Degrees:
A Line Monitor wearing a red and green sash will signal your row when it's time to stand and proceed to the stage. MBA, MS in Finance, and PMBA graduates will stand one row at a time, starting with the first row of Section One, and proceed to the steps at the right of the stage. The first row will be led by the MBA Student Marshals. Section One will be graduated first, followed by Section Two. Please form a line to prevent blocking any guests' view of the stage, particularly those sitting on the lower bleacher seats.

As your turn approaches on the stage, hand your name card to Jan Snow so that Joe Fox can announce your name and degree(s). After your name has been read, walk to center stage to receive your diploma cover from Dean Gupta. Your picture will be taken at this time. Please stand and face the camera.

Proceed down the stairs on the left side of the stage and stop in front of the flags. A photographer will take a photo of you holding your diploma. Finally, return to your seat, entering your row at the end opposite from where you exited.

Graduates are to remain seated until all degrees are awarded. The ceremony is complete when all stage participants and graduates have recessed from the gym.

After the ceremony
When the ceremony is complete, return to the tables where you received your information card and pick up your actual diploma!!! Any diploma not collected at graduation will be held in the Student Records Office, Women's Building, Room 50, until May 30th. Diplomas that are not picked up by that time will be mailed to the address listed on your Intent to Graduate form. Proceed to Simon Hall for the reception!

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