Graduation 2024

Class of 2024 Graduates and Parents:

There is no time more special on campus each year than Bolles Graduation. This is a season of cherished traditions, lifelong reflection and celebration. Each year, Bolles honors distinguished new alumni who are ready to blaze their own trails and make a difference in the world. As we look forward to May 25 and our 92nd Commencement Ceremony for the 207 seniors in the Class of 2024, a collective passion and excitement for this special day guides our efforts. I wanted to share with each of you how this year's Commencement will look due to the construction of the new Center for Innovation and outline our guidelines for this special day:

Set-Up: With the completion of the new Frank R. Sanchez & Hope and Dana E. Fender Center for Innovation, we will once again set up to the left of Commencement Pointe at the Gazebo. The stage will be along the bluff on the River Campus and chairs will be set up in "family pods" of up to 8 people. Family members and guests will sit at their graduate's pod and the graduates will sit together close to the stage. Guests should arrive and be parked by 8:10 a.m. with the program starting promptly at 8:30 a.m. Signs with the graduate's name will mark each family pod and will run in as close to alphabetical order as possible, due to trees and spacing. We ask that families not move chairs or seat locations. Restroom facilities will be open and are available at McGehee Auditorium, Davis Gym and Lynch Theatre. Access to Bolles Hall is only for graduates, faculty and staff and the Board of Trustees. Water will be available in a variety of locations. (See set-up map here)

Rain Plan: In the event of rain, the ceremony will take place in Davis Gym. Seating would then be limited and a ticket would be required for entry due to space constraints. Up to six tickets would be given to each graduate on the day before the ceremony. If it is necessary for the rain plan to be put into effect, we would communicate this to our community as soon as possible.

RSVP: Each family may RSVP for up to 8 guests. It is important that we hear from you of your plans to attend in order for us to make appropriate preparations for the day. Please take a moment and complete the RSVP form here. McGehee Auditorium will be open for additional guests who would like to watch the live stream indoors. Every member of the Class of 2024 will be recognized and celebrated.

Arrival for Graduates: All graduates should arrive no later than 7:30 a.m. and should park on campus in front of Bolles Hall. Graduates should go directly to Davis Gym for flowers and boutonnieres. From there, they will walk as a group to the front lawn for their class photo, then they will be led through Bolles Hall to outside for the procession.

Parking for Families and Guests: Families and Guests have assigned parking on the practice field and should enter through the South Campus entrance only. (See parking map HERE)

Photos: A professional photographer will be there to take each graduate's photo as they receive their diploma. As is tradition, parents of the graduate being announced are welcome to walk up front to see the diploma being awarded. In addition, Memory Lane will be live streaming the event and will have DVDs available for individual purchase the week following the event. The live stream may be viewed on the home page of Bolles.org on the day of the event. Memory Lane will also be live streaming Awards Day on May 20 and will make these DVDs also available for purchase. (Please note: Parents of students receiving an award on Awards Day will receive an invitation.)

Attire: We have a traditional dress for this special event that you may find HERE. Your attire should match these details and honor the formality of the ceremony.

Thank you in advance for your support and for what we know will be a great day of celebration! Please know we care about and appreciate each of you and are proud to honor you at this special occasion you have each worked so hard to reach. Congratulations on this milestone—one of many yet to come!

Respectfully,

Tyler Hodges
President and Head of School