Graduation Information
RSVP: Each family must RSVP and may reserve seats for up to 8 guests. It is important that we hear from you and your plans for the day are noted, 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 2026 will be recognized and celebrated.
Set-Up: 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 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. Restrooms will be open and made available on the first floor of the Sanchez Fender CFI, River Patio, 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 five 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.
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). Special Needs parking is available for those with a decal or hanging tag on campus through the main entrance.
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 Friday, May 15 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.