SOE Graduation Celebration - May 17, 2025
Finally, the big day has arrived!
The School of Education Graduation Celebration
Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 12:30 p.m.
Kaplan Arena, William & Mary
Parking
School of Education students and families are encouraged to park in the lots surrounding the School of Education . We will have shuttle buses that will run between the School of Education and Kaplan Arena. You can also walk to Kaplan via the pedestrian walkway behind the School of Education, The School of Education building will not be open in May 17th.
Student Seating at the SOE Graduation Celebration
Graduates are asked to arrive at Kaplan Arena no later than 11:30 a.m. and report to the basement of Kaplan Arena. Graduates will be lined up for seating according to program areas: Undergraduates; doctoral, Educational Specialist, Curriculum & Instruction master's; Educational Policy, Planning & Leadership master's; and School Psychology & Counselor Education master's graduates. (Right side is UG students, C&I, EPPL, and some SPACE masters students; the left side is the rest of the SPACE masters, EdS and doctoral students.) When you arrive, report to your program area. A staff member will provide you with a name card. You will provide that name card to the faculty member at the podium when you come forward so that they can read your name and degree. Please be sure to take it with you when you get up to process to the stage.
Graduates will process up from the basement and down the center aisle, toward the stage. All student seating is on the floor of Kaplan Arena. Guests are seated on the sides. When you arrive, we will provide you with a name card.
Following the ceremony, you will process off of the floor of Kaplan Arena behind the dean and faculty.
Regalia
You should wear regalia at the SOE ceremony. If you have questions about your regalia, please contact the Spirit Shop & Bookstore 757-221-1669.
Photographer
There will be a photographer at the ceremony. The photographer will email you proofs after the event. There is no obligation to purchase the pictures, but it is a service we provide just in case you want professional pictures to capture the big event.
Guests
Guest tickets are not required for the School of Education’s Graduation Celebration. Guests should go directly to Kaplan Arena and find seating on the sides. The ceremony is open to all family members and guests of our degree candidates. We do provide reserved seating for guests with special needs. If you have a guest with a special need, please [[trgainer, email us]] and let us know.
Clear Bag Policy and Prohibited Items
Due to the expected number of guests, a clear-bag policy will be in effect for the Main Commencement Ceremony and all events in Kaplan Arena that regulates the size and type of bag that may be brought into the ceremony venue. Clear bags fitting these regulations are available for purchase in the Spirit Shop Bookstore.
(If you registered to attend the main campus ceremony on Friday evening, you will receive an email the week of graduation from tribetickets@wm.edu with your electronic tickets. Tickets are required for the main ceremony on Friday, May 16.)
