Schedule of Commencement Events 2025

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Law

Date/TimeEvent
Tuesday - Wednesday,
February 4 - 5
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 
Law Grad Fair. Law School Moot Court Lobby
Wednesday, May 14
3 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Required Commencement Rehearsal, Stemmons Plaza, facing Huntley Hall, between Reid Hall and Newcomb Hall (dress: casual). All students participating in commencement are REQUIRED to attend the rehearsal on Wednesday, May 14.
Rain Location: Duchossois Athletic and Recreation Center
Thursday, May 15
3:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony and Presentation of Walking Sticks, 4th floor in Duchossois Athletic and Recreation Center, Holekamp Gym (Dress: Business Casual)
8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Champagne, Fireworks, and Music, Sydney Lewis Hall Lawn (Dress: Casual)  *The fireworks display will be cancelled in the event of heavy rain; fireworks will go off if it is only drizzling or a light rain is falling. (Rain location: Evans Dining Hall)
Friday, May 16

9 a.m.
Pictures of alumni parents and their graduating children. Front Lawn, in front of the President's home (Lee House) and the Simpson House. Information to be sent by the Law School Advancement Office
Rain Location: TBD
9:15 a.m. J.D. graduating class photo. Front Lawn, in front of the President's home (Lee House) and the Simpson House.
Rain plan: For anything more than a drizzle, this picture will be cancelled.
9:30 a.m. Graduates line up, Stemmons Plaza between Newcomb Hall and Reid Hall, facing Huntley Hall
Rain Location: 4th floor in Duchossois Athletic and Recreation Center, outside Holekamp Gym
10 a.m. Law Commencement, Colonnade, in front of University Chapel
Speaker: Angelica Didier Light, JD, ‘75L.
(Rain Location: Duchossois Athletic and Recreation Center; remote viewing locations in Stackhouse Theater and Hillel Multipurpose Room)
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Law Graduation Picnic, Cannan Green (tent on green space between Elrod Commons and Doremus Gym) (Rain location: Evans Dining Hall)



Undergraduate 

Date/TimeEvent
Wednesday - Friday,
March 5 - 7
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Undergraduate Grad Fair, Elrod University Commons Atrium
Monday, March 31
6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Reception for Graduating Seniors, Lee House Patio

Tuesday, May 20
5 p.m.
Athletics Awards Ceremony, Holekamp Gym, Duchossois Athletic and Recreation Center
Recognition of participation and achievements among 24 varsity teams, followed by Dinner in Evans Hall
Saturday, May 23 Final examinations
Monday, May 26
10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Regalia (Cap and Gown) distribution, Elrod Commons, Career and Professional Department Office
7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Alumni Senior Night, Liberty Hall Ruins. Entertainment, Food.  Senior Photo will be taken at 7:30 SHARP.
Sponsored by The Alumni Association. ( Rain Location: Evans Hall)
Tuesday, May 27
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Res Life Senior Send-Off.  Event is for seniors who currently serve as Resident Advisors or Community Assistants for the Office of Housing and Residence Life, Gaines Hall (Rotunda)   
5 p.m. CIE International Education Awards, Ruscio Center for Global Learning Atrium(by invitation)
5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

The Journalism and Mass Communication Graduate Cocktail Reception, Hillel House 101

6 p.m. Africana Studies/DeLaney Center Graduation Send-off, Watson Pavilion
8 p.m. University Singers Commencement Concert.  Join The University Singers under the direction of Shane M. Lynch for one final concert performance of the year featuring favorite works from throughout the 2024-25 season selected by the seniors. This annual tradition is designed for parents and family of the graduating students, but is also open to the public.  No tickets are required. Wilson Concert Hall.  
Wednesday, May 28
8:30 a.m. Education Studies Graduation Reception, Newcomb Hall 122
9:30 a.m. Graduates line up, Stemmons Plaza behind Washington Hall, in front of Huntley Hall
(Rain Location: VMI's Cameron Hall 401 N Main St)
10 a.m. Undergraduate Baccalaureate, Colonnade, in front of University Chapel
Speaker: Ansel Sanders '04, President, Webb School of Knoxville
(Rain Location: VMI's Cameron Hall 401 N Main St)
11:30 a.m. Luncheon for Families, Faculty, and Staff, Cannan Green (tent near the Elrod Commons)
12:30 p.m. President's Open House for Parents, Lee House. Ends promptly at 2:00 pm
1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Williams School Awards Ceremony, Huntley Hall Terrace (by invitation)
Rain Location: Larry and Fran Peppers Room, Huntley Hall
1:30 p.m. Fine Arts Awards Ceremony and Reception, Wilson Concert Hall (Reception will follow in Lykes Atrium)
2 p.m. Sociology and Anthropology Graduation Reception, Newcomb Hall 116
2 p.m. Philosophy Department Reception for Graduating Seniors and Families, Elrod Commons 114
2 p.m. Mathematics Department Reception for Graduating Seniors and Families, Chavis Hall 105
2:30 p.m. Computer Science Graduation Reception, Science Center Great Hall
4 p.m. Religion Department Reception, (Invitation Only) Outdoor Village Pavilion 
4 p.m. Law, Justice and Society Graduation Reception, Mason Taylor New Room, Payne Hall
4:30 p.m. Neuroscience Reception for Seniors, Families, and Faculty, Ruscio Center for Global Learning Atrium
6:30 p.m. Reception for graduating Theatre, Dance and Film Studies Majors and Minors and Families, Johnson Theatre, Lenfest
Thursday, May 29
7:45 a.m. Cognitive and Behavioral Science Graduation Breakfast, Hotchkiss Alumni House
8 a.m. Classics Department Continental Breakfast, Mason Taylor New Room, Payne Hall
8 a.m. East Asian Languages and Literatures Department Continental Breakfast, Ruscio Center for Global Learning Atrium
8 a.m. Physics and Engineering Department Graduation Breakfast, Science Center Great Hall
8 a.m. Williams School Commencement Breakfast, Huntley Hall Terrace,
(Rain Location: Larry and Fran Peppers Room, Huntley Hall)
8 a.m. Shepherd Program Commencement Breakfast, Mattingly House
8:15 a.m. Earth and Environmental Geoscience Graduation Breakfast, A218 Science Center
8:30 a.m. History Department Coffee and Donuts Reception for History Majors and Families, Newcomb Hall, (Lawn between Newcomb and Huntley Halls)
8:45 a.m. Pictures of Alumni Parents and their graduating children, in front of Simpson House (Rain Location: Hotchkiss Alumni House). Information to be sent by the Alumni Office
9:15 a.m. Graduates line up, Stemmons Plaza behind Washington Hall, in front of Huntley Hall
(Rain Location: VMI's Cameron Hall 401 N Main St)
10 a.m. Undergraduate Commencement, Colonnade, in front of University Chapel
Speakers: William C. Dudley, Washington and Lee University President.  Harris Stripling '25, EC President 
(Rain Location: VMI's Cameron Hall 401 N Main St). Remote viewing available at the Smart Zone on the main floor of Leyburn Library and in Newcomb Hall. Web streaming of the entire ceremony is available at go.wlu.edu/commencementlive.
after graduation Biology Department Luncheon, Hotchkiss Alumni House
after graduation International Student Graduation Reception, Ruscio Center for Global Learning Atrium
after graduation Chemistry and Biochemistry Department Luncheon, Science Center Great Hall
5 p.m. ROTC Commissioning Ceremony, University Chapel -TBA