The Graduate Diploma and Awards Ceremony will take place on Friday, May 21, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. in the Athletic Complex Field House.

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 Francis Gym. 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. Be sure not to lose/misplace this card as you will need it for the ceremony. See information for All Graduates.

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. MBA, PMBA, MACC and MS in Finance graduates may be mixed together. 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 guest speaker who will deliver the Olin commencement address. Following the commencement addresses, your elected student speaker will deliver his/her speech and present the Reid Teaching Awards. At this time, 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.

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. Graduate students 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 an orderly line when approaching the stage 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, visit the table in the main lobby of the Athletic Complex to 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 30. Diplomas that are not picked up by that time will be mailed to the address listed on your Intent to Graduate form. Please plan to join us in Simon Hall immediately following the ceremony for a celebratory reception.

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