COMMENCEMENT information and rehearsal assistant vice president, Dr. Renee Simpson

1. COMMENCEMENT information and rehearsalassistant vice president, Dr. Renee Simpson

2. Ceremony location and start time • Line up and marching instructions • Attire • Placement and Pictures • Name recognition Overview of information session

3. Osceola Heritage Park, Silver Spurs Arena • Report to the North Lobby of the Silver Spurs Arena by 9:00 a.m. • The ceremony begins promptly at 10:00 a.m. • The ceremony will last approximately 2 ½ hours commencement place and time

4. You should have received your parking pass. If you have not, the parking pass can be printed from the graduation home page at valenciacollege.edu/graduation • Make sure the permit is prominently displayed on your vehicle’s as well as on your guests dashboard • You will be directed to park in the areas specifically designated for graduates parking

5. Business - Church • Men • A collared shirt and dress pants (tie optional) • Dress shoes (no sneakers or flip flops) • Women • Dress or blouse and slacks/skirt • Low heeled or flat shoes are highly recommended If you choose to wear platform or stilettos, break them in before the ceremony Appropriate attire

6. Your cap and gown are made from an environmentally friendly fabric that will decompose in soil in one year. • Arrive with your cap and gown on or ready to be put on. • Tassel is worn on the right side until the degree is conferred. • It’s your day – style is up to you. Cap and gown

7. Blue cards - cumulative GPA of 3.75 • You may wear a Red stole in recognition of your academic achievement. • Green cards-Bachelor Students • Bachelor Program Participants – Gold Stole • Honors Program Participants – Royal Blue • Clubs and Organization – Stoles and Cords vary in Color • Stole of Appreciation – Black with Valencia Logo. Achievement and Recognition

8. Line-up will begin at 9:00 a.m. Once in line don’t allow anyone to break the line. • Bachelor Graduates will march in first • Processional will start at 10:00 a.m. • Valencia Student Development Coordinators will serve as your Marshals • You will be directed when to march and where to be seated for the ceremony Line up

9. The only items you should have with you are a photo ID that you can properly secure on your person and your name card. • There are no dressing rooms • There is no area to store personal items • It is important that you are dressed in your cap and gown when you report to the North Lobby. • A plan to meet your guests in a designated space outside the arena Items to bring to the ceremony

10. The Processional: • Platform Party • Faculty • Graduates Processional

11. You will enter from the West Side of the Arena. • You’ll be divided into four lines on the red carpet • Stay on the red carpet! • Student Marshals will guide you down the aisle and into your seating row. • Enter the row, go to the next available seat and be seated immediately. • Do not leave any vacant seats! Entering the Arena

12. The Commencement ceremony

13. Grad Images is the name of the Photographer that will take your picture with President Shugart • Guests will not be permitted on the Arena floor • Guests may take photographs of the graduates only from their seats Grad images photographer

14. Photographer’s proofs will be sent to email address on you indicate on your card within 72 hours of the ceremony • You may order pictures through Grad Images • There is no video of the ceremony. The ceremony is being streamed live: http://valenciacollege.edu/graduation/live.cfm Additional pictures

15. Keep your tassel out of your face • Pause and smile with the President • Allow the president to position you • Accept your diploma in your left hand and remember to shake with your right hand. How to be a Picture-Perfect Graduate!

16. COMMENCEMENT tickets • All guests older than 9 months of age are required to have a ticket to enter the Arena • Each graduate will receive four (4) tickets • Remember Live webcast URL • http://valenciacollege.edu/graduation/live.cfm

17. The ceremony marks a significant achievement for all of you; in light of that we ask you to remind your guests to dress appropriately and to honor all graduates by remaining quiet throughout the ceremony so that everyone can hear the program participants. important day for many people

18. You will be directed to stand for The Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge of allegiance Women should keep their caps on at all times Men should remove their caps for the Pledge of Allegiance and keep them off until asked to stand in preparation for the conferring of the degrees

19. The President will greet you and your guests • There will be recognition of the faculty and staff followed by the commencement address • Your distinguished graduate speech • President Shugart will ask you to stand and the BOT chairperson will confer the degrees. • Marshals will direct you when to stand to move to the staging area. Pay attention to what is being said—this is YOUR big moment! The ceremony

20. The Marshal will walk row by row and give a signal to move toward the platform area • Students enter the right side of the stage and exit the left side of the stage • As you move to the platform area, be prepared to hand your name card to the reader • As your name is read you will be greeted by the platform party usually consisting of the chairperson of the Board of Trustees, the Chief Learning Office, and President. They will give you a congratulatory handshake and hand you your diploma cover. marshal

21. Accept the diploma cover in your left hand and shake with your right hand. • President Shugart will be at the end of the stage. He will shake your hand (left over right). • Remember to take a moment to allow the photographer to take your picture as President Shugart shakes your hand; he will help pose the picture. Pause and look at the camera. Hand shake / receipt of diploma

22. Once you receive your diploma cover move off the stage to the photographer’s area on the Arena floor. • After your second picture you will need to follow the directions of the floor marshals to your row and be seated. • Do not wait on others in your row before being seated. Returning to your seat

23. Audience will be asked to remain seated • The Platform Party • The Faculty • The Graduates The Recessional:

24. Be sure to move completely off the Arena floor and proceed out of the building • Guests to remain in their seats or respective areas until all of the graduates have marched out of the building Exit the building

25. Dress for the ceremony and the weather • Arrive at the Silver Spurs Arena by 9:00 a.m. • Your guests must each have a ticket • Stay on the red carpet • Pay close attention to the Marshals • Give your name card to the reader • Remember the delay IMPORTANT REMINDERS

26. Shake with your right hand and accept your diploma cover with your left hand • Be respectful of your fellow graduates and ask your guests to do the same • Enjoy your day—you are celebrating a great accomplishment! IMPORTANT REMINDERS

27. CLASS LEGACY PROJECT: http://valenciacollege.edu/alumni/classgift/ • LIVE WEB CAST URL: http://valenciacollege.edu/graduation/live.cfm IMPORTANT REMINDERS

28. See you Saturday May 4th at Commencement!