Story by Aiden Eisel, Sports Editor | Photo Courtesy of Cypress College
As the countdown to commencement continues, the Cypress College Campus Communications team notified students of commencement requirements, plans, and instructions for participating students and guests.
Graduates are encouraged to park in Lot 4 and Lot 5; guests will be directed to park in Lot 9, behind the humanities building. However, all lots will be open on the day of, except for lot eight, which will reopen in case extra parking is needed.
Graduates are prohibited from bringing bags, purses, or any other items that might disturb the ceremony. Students cannot decorate their gowns, but can decorate their caps. All participating students must stay for the entire ceremony and are recommended to wear comfortable shoes, as they might be standing for long periods. The ceremony is estimated to be two and a half hours long.
The meeting time for graduates is 3 p.m. by the pond; the ceremony will start at 4 p.m. Students are encouraged to arrive on time. Upon arrival, students will line up by academic pathway. Graduates who wish to walk with their friends from different pathways can line up at the “We Journey Together” banner.
Each pathway will be grouped into two separate lines. If graduates want to sit with friends, they are encouraged to line up behind them, not next to them. Student Ambassadors will hand out pencils and paper for graduates to write their names and phonetic pronunciation; it will be used for announcers to say their names when graduates walk on stage. Graduates will be ordered to walk by the theater and remain seated until their group gets called.
Graduates can bring as many guests as they want during the ceremony, but all seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Airhorns, thundersticks, and whistles are prohibited from the ceremony to be able to hear every graduate’s name called. Balloons must be kept in the back so as not to obstruct participants’ views
The bookstore will sell flowers, balloons, collegiate gifts, and snacks during the ceremony. Professional photographers will take pictures of all graduates when they walk across the stage; photo packages will be available for purchase online within two weeks following commencement.
For more information about the commencement, visit the Cypress College Commencement Central website.
