Indoor Commencement Ceremony Schedule: Saturday, May 7, 2022
Due to the forecasted wind, cold and rain conditions for Saturday, May 7, Messiah University’s Undergraduate Commencement will be moved indoors. The University will now hold TWO abbreviated indoor ceremonies (10 a.m. and 1 p.m.) in Brubaker Auditorium located in Eisenhower Campus Center.
View the Commencement ceremony livestream
Current COVID-19 protocols
NOTE: Messiah University is currently mask optional in all of its campus buildings. The University will have KN95 masks available at both ceremonies for guests who would like to use them.
Read the adjusted schedule details:
Graduate assignments for the 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. ceremonies
Graduates
The continental breakfast for graduates will proceed as scheduled from 7-8:30 a.m. in Lottie Nelson Dining Room.
Caps/gowns, and rain plan tickets will be available for pickup by graduates in Sawyer Gymnasium from 7:30-9:30 a.m.
Note: This is the only remaining time for graduates to pick up “rain plan” tickets for their guests if they haven’t done so already. Tickets will only be released to graduates , who will need to make arrangements to get them to their guests.
Graduates should report with their cap and gown to Sawyer Gymnasium (Sollenberger Sports Center) 75 minutes before the start time of their respective ceremony . Graduates will be lined up and given marching instructions when they arrive.
Graduates marching in the 10 a.m. ceremony should report no later than 8:45 a.m.
Graduates marching in the 1 p.m. ceremony should report no later than 11:45 a.m.
Following the conclusion of the ceremony, graduates will not
Guests
Shuttle service:
Prior to the ceremonies : Shuttle service will be provided to transport guests beginning at 7 a.m. For guests holding tickets to the Brubaker Auditorium ceremony, the shuttle drop-off location will be at the Sollenberger Sports Center entrance.
For guests who will be viewing the ceremony livestream in the High Center (no tickets required) the shuttle drop off will be in front of the High Center.
Following the ceremonies : Guests will be returned to their vehicles via the return shuttle/pick-up locations in front of Eisenhower Campus Center or at the main entrance to the High Center. The return shuttles will run for 90 minutes following the conclusion of the second ceremony (through approximately 4 p.m.)
Admittance to Brubaker Auditorium:
All guests holding indoor ceremony tickets —whether for Brubaker main level or Brubaker Balcony (for the 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. ceremony)—must first report to Hitchcock Arena in the Sollenberger Sports Center .
Note: You must show your indoor ceremony tickets for admittance to Hitchcock. Note: You must show your indoor ceremony tickets for admittance to Hitchcock.
From Hitchcock, all guests will be escorted to their appropriate seating area once the auditorium is open for seating (approximately 90 minutes prior to each ceremony). (Guests who wish to sit together at the ceremony should plan to enter Hitchcock Arena at the same time.) No admittance will be made to the ceremony from any other area.
Inside Hitchcock Arena, guests will be able to mingle until it is time to be escorted to your respective indoor ceremony. (Doors will open to Brubaker Auditorium approximately 90 minutes prior to each ceremony’s start time.) The flower vendor table, as well as coffee/tea and an information table for guests, will also be available inside Hitchcock. Guests are also invited to visit the Campus Store during this time.
Exiting the indoor ceremony:
Following the conclusion of the 10 a.m. ceremony, guests from all venues will be exited directly outside from the building. (Guests will not return to Hitchcock Arena due to congestion of guests who are arriving for the second ceremony.) You are encouraged to meet your graduate outside or in an area you have pre-arranged, i.e., their student residence or Larsen Student Union.
We ask that you exit the area surrounding Eisenhower Campus Center and Sollenberger Sports Center as soon as possible so that we may help reduce congestion for graduates and guests arriving for the 1 p.m. ceremony.
Location for meeting and dining:
Larsen Student Union will be open starting at 7:30 a.m. as a venue for guests and graduates to meet and congregate throughout the day. From 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. the Union Café will provide for purchase pizza and other “grab and go” light lunch, beverage, and snack items in that location.
Other guest services:
The Campus Store, located on the ground floor of Eisenhower Campus Center, will be open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Platform Party
The Platform Party will participate in BOTH ceremonies, and should report by 8:45 a.m. to Sollenberger Sports Center, Room 125 (wrestling/multipurpose room).Please enter the building by the Eisenhower Campus Center lobby main entrance doors. You will then be directed to Sollenberger Sports Center, Room 125 (wrestling/multipurpose room).
Members of the Platform Party will have lunch provided for them in between ceremonies from 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. in the Martin Dining Commons on the upper level of Eisenhower Campus Center.
Educator Marshals
Educator Marshals should report to Sawyer Gymnasium in the Sollenberger Sports Center 30 minutes before their assigned ceremony’s start time .
10 a.m. ceremony (Mike Miller)
1 p.m. ceremony (Marti Derr)
Please enter the building by the Eisenhower Campus Center lobby main entrance doors. You will then be directed to Sawyer Gymnasium.
The educator marshals will lead their assigned ceremony processional through the auditorium and are then free to go.
Student Marshals
Schedule for the Student Marshal marching in the 10 a.m. ceremony (Micah Wagner):
Report by 8:45 a.m. to Sollenberger Sports Center, Room 125 (wrestling/multipurpose room) to pick up your robe and receive instructions on where to report to line up for the processional.
Following your role in the processional you are dismissed.
Schedule for the Student Marshal marching in the 1 p.m. ceremony (Ruth Galyen):
Report by 11:45 a.m. to Sollenberger Sports Center, Room 125 (wrestling/multipurpose room) to pick up your robe and receive instructions on where to report to line up for the processional.
Following your role in the processional you are dismissed.
Banner Carriers
Banner carriers should report to the Sollenberger Sports Center, Room 125 (wrestling/multipurpose room) to pick up their robes 1 hour and 15 minutes before the start time of the ceremony in which they are assigned to march (i.e., 8:45 a.m. for the 10 a.m. ceremony; and 11:45 a.m. for the 1 p.m. ceremony). You will then be directed where to line up for the processional.
Please enter Eisenhower Campus Center via the lobby main entrance doors.
Department chairs marching with graduates
Department Chairs marching with the graduates will march only in the processional for the ceremony of their respective department and should report with their regalia to Sawyer Gymnasium in the Sollenberger Sports Center one hour before their assigned ceremony’s start time.
10 a.m. ceremony (report at 9 a.m.)
1 p.m. ceremony (report at 12 noon)
Please enter the building by the Eisenhower Campus Center lobby main entrance doors. You will then be directed to Sawyer Gymnasium.
Concert Choir and President’s Brass
Faculty and students who are a part of the Concert Choir or President’s Brass will NOT be performing as part of either indoor ceremony. If you have no other assigned role in the Commencement ceremony, there is no need to report to campus.