Recognition Ceremony

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Schedule of Ceremonies

Friday, May 10
Topper Walk to Smith Stadium	5:15 p.m.	Meet at Kentucky Museum
Commencement Ceremony	6 p.m.	Houchens- L.T. Smith Stadium
Big Red Bash	Follows the ceremony	South Lawn
Saturday, May 11
Gordon Ford College of Business	8 a.m.	E.A. Diddle Arena
Potter College of Arts and Letters	10:30 a.m.
Ogden College of Science and Engineering	1 p.m.
College of Education and Behavioral Sciences	3:30 p.m.
College of Health and Human Services	6 p.m.

 

Friday night festivities

Begins with Topper Walk and ends with fireworks! 

Graduates, faculty, and staff will all meet at the Kentucky Museum, dressed in regalia, for a ceremonial walk down the Avenue of Champions. Students will walk with their respective College and be seated in the stadium with their classmates for the Commencement Ceremony. President Timothy Caboni and the College Deans will speak during this Ceremony, where degrees will be conferred by the Board of Regents.

Family members will gather at Smith Stadium and the Topper Walk will be shown on the big screen inside the stadium. 

Immediately following the Commencement Ceremony, graduates and their families will walk to WKU's South Lawn for Big Red Bash, an event with at least eight food trucks, a live band, and fireworks. The GFCB will have a tent for students and their families to gather -- you may leave your regalia on the table so you can enjoy yourself without feeling as though you will get it dirty! We will have water, lemonade, and ice pops for refreshments. Bring cash to purchase other items from the food trucks. 

The evening will end with a fireworks display. 

 

Reception for Gordon Ford Students, Friends, & Family

Saturday, May 11, immediately following the ceremony, Grise Hall Front Lawn 

Enjoy a brunch, a photo booth, and fellowship with faculty, staff, other graduates, and your family! This event will immediately follow our Recognition Ceremony in Diddle so you can snap those last-minute photos and get a snack before going off-campus for your family-centered celebrations 

 

Cap Decorating Contest 

To be announced! 

 

Grad Fair 

You know you want it! The EXCLUSIVE GFCB Alumni T-shirt will be distributed during the Grad Fair March 27 and 28! The Grad Fair is the place where you will pick up your cap and gown, order class rings, gather specific College celebration information, and interact with the other information tables. The GFCB will give its graduates a color-changing Alumni cup and the Alumni T-shirt so DON'T MISS IT!

  

Recognition Ceremony Video

Be sure to send your pictures to Stacey Gish (stacey.gish@wku.edu) by April 15 to be included in the video that will play during the Recognition Ceremony on Saturday morning. 

 

Parking Information and Directions

Detailed information regarding parking and directions to E.A. Diddle Arena can be found here.

 

Campus Map

Click here to view a map of Western Kentucky University's campus.

 

Recognition Ceremony Broadcast

For family and friends who are unable to attend the GFCB Recognition Ceremony, there are several opportunities to view the event live:

• WKU PBS TV
• WKU Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/WKUNews/)
• WKU YouTube Channel  (https://www.youtube.com/wkunews)

 

Student Information

Application for Graduation

Before completing a degree, students need to apply for graduation through TopNet. This allows students to provide WKU with information regarding the completeion of your graduation requirements, and is required once a student is close to completing their degree. For more information on WKU's Application for Graduation, click here.

Pick up Your Cap & Gown

Academic regalia that should be worn to both Friday night and Saturday events can be picked up at the WKU Store.

 

Graduation Honors

Undergraduate students who maintain outstanding academic achievement are recognized by wearing red and white honor cords. Criteria for graduation honors are:

• Cum Laude—The graduation honor given to students who have completed their baccalaureate study with both cumulative overall and cumulative WKU grade point averages of 3.40 - 3.59 and a minimum of 45 semester hours earned through instruction at WKU.
• Magna Cum Laude—The graduation honor given to students who have completed their baccalaureate study with both cumulative overall and cumulative WKU grade point averages of 3.60 - 3.79 and a minimum of 45 semester hours earned through instruction at WKU.
• Summa Cum Laude—The graduation honor given to students who have completed their baccalaureate study with both cumulative overall and cumulative WKU grade point averages of 3.80 - 4.00 and a minimum of 45 semester hours earned through instruction at WKU.

Diplomas

The diploma will be mailed to the student's address listed in their Application for Graduation (which can be altered via  TopNet if the mailing address has changed). Diplomas for graduates will be mailed approximately 3 to 6 weeks following the Recognition Ceremony. For more information about diplomas, click here.

 

Community Information

Seating

Candidates for graduation will be seated on the floor of Diddle Arena. All seats for families and guests of the graduates are available on a first come, first serve basis. It is recommended that guests be seated 30 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.

Accessible seating is available on the second level of the arena. Elevators are available at each entrance. One additional guest may accompany the attendee with a disability to this area. To assure accessible seating for all who need to be accommodated, we ask that other guests be seated near the accessible seating areas.

Overnight Accomodations

Recognition Ceremony weekend will be very busy with other activities in the Bowling Green community. If overnight accommodations are necessary, it is recommended that reservations be made immediately. Local hotel information is provided by the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce.