Indoor Commencement Ceremony Schedule: Saturday, May 6, 2023
Due to the forecasted weather conditions for Saturday, May 6, 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
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 are invited to meet with their guests in Hitchcock Arena. All guests will exit out of the pool hallway entrance of Sollenberger Sports Center.
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 circle entrance to Eisenhower Campus Center.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. These locations include, near the pool hallway entrance to Sollenberger Sports 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)—may report to the Eisenhower Campus Center Commons prior to the doors opening. Once doors are opened for your graduate’s ceremony, guests will be admitted directly into Brubaker Auditorium. Note: Note: From Eisenhower Campus Center Commons, 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 will be able to mingle in the Eisenhower Campus Center Commons until it is time to be escorted to their respective indoor ceremony.
The Campus Store will be open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
The flower vendor table will be located inside the Campus Store.
Coffee/tea will be available for purchase at the Falcon Café from 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Exiting the indoor ceremony:
Following the conclusion of each ceremony, guests will be directed towards Hitchcock Arena to meet their graduates.
Location for meeting and dining:
The Falcon Cafe will be open from 8 a.m.–2 p.m. as a venue for guests and graduates to meet and congregate throughout the day.
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 the Eisenhower Campus Center Board Room for a short briefing. Please enter the building by the Eisenhower Campus Center lobby main entrance doors. You will then be directed to the Board Room.
Members of the Platform Party will have lunch provided for them in between ceremonies in the Martin Dining Commons on the upper level of Eisenhower Campus Center.
Community of Educators
The Community of Educators will march only in the processional for the ceremony of their respective department or assigned ceremony and should report with their regalia to Sawyer Products Gymnasium in Sollenberger Sports Center, 30 minutes before the start time of their respective ceremony.
Please enter the building by the Eisenhower Campus Center lobby main entrance doors. You will then be directed to Sawyer Products Gymnasium.
The COE will participate in the processional at the start of their respective ceremonies and will then be dismissed. Due to space limitations inside Brubaker Auditorium, there is no seating available for members of the Community of Educators during either Commencement ceremony.
Educator Marshals
Educator Marshals should report to Sawyer Products Gymnasium in the Sollenberger Sports Center 30 minutes before their assigned ceremony’s start time
10 a.m. ceremony (Scott Kieffer; report 9:30 a.m.)
1 p.m. ceremony (Patrice Ewoldt; report 12:30 p.m.)
Please enter the building by the Eisenhower Campus Center lobby main entrance doors. You will then be directed to Sawyer Products 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 (Moises Ramirez Gomez):
Report by 8:45 a.m. to Hitchcock Arena to pick up your banner; then proceed to Sawyer Gymnasium to pick up your robe and receive instructions on where to line up for the processional.
Schedule for the Student Marshal marching in the 1 p.m. ceremony (Ashley Glezer):
Report by 11:45 p.m. to Hitchcock Arena to pick up your banner; then proceed to Sawyer Gymnasium to pick up your robe and receive instructions on where to line up for the processional.
Banner Carriers
Banner carriers should report 75 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).
Please enter Eisenhower Campus Center lobby main entrance doors.
First report to Hitchcock Arena to pick up your banner; then proceed to Sawyer Gymnasium to pick up your robe and receive instructions on where to line up for the processional.
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 Products Gymnasium in the Sollenberger Sports Center one hour before their assigned ceremony’s start time.
10 a.m. ceremony (report at 9 a.m.) School of Science, Engineering and Health
School of Arts Culture and Society (Departments of Art and Design and Biblical, Religious and Philosophical Studies ONLY)
1 p.m. ceremony (report at 12 noon) School of Arts Culture and Society (EXCEPT for Departments of Art and Design and Biblical, Religious and Philosophical Studies)
Please enter the building by the Eisenhower Campus Center lobby main entrance doors. You will then be directed to Sawyer Products 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.