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
(Tickets are not required for the SOE celebration)
Watch Livestreams
We are pleased to offer live audio and video streaming for the Doctoral Cording Ceremony and the School of Education Graduation Celebration for the Class of 2025.
Graduates
Watch our Graduation Celebration walkthrough video for tips on arriving at Kaplan Arena and making the most of your William & Mary School of Education celebration.
Invitations and RSVP
Invitations to graduates will go out via email as a Paperless Post invite in early April. You will RSVP through the invitation. Tickets are NOT required for the SOE celebration on Saturday.
If you cannot attend the ceremony, but would like to have your name read, please complete the virtual name read form no later than May 9th. If you are attending the ceremony, please do not complete the form.
Parking and Shuttle Buses
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 front of the School of Education building and Kaplan Arena. Shuttles from the School of Education to Kaplan will begin at 10:45 a.m. and run until 1 p.m. After the ceremony, shuttles from Kaplan back to the School of Education will run from 2:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. (There are multiple buses from two different companies serving as shuttles.)
You can also walk to Kaplan via the pedestrian walkway behind the School of Education.
The School of Education building will not be open on 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, via the ramp at the back of the building (across from Recreation Center).
Graduates will be lined up for seating according to program areas: Doctoral, Undergraduates, Curriculum & Instruction master's; Educational Policy, Planning & Leadership master's; Educational Specialist, and School Psychology & Counselor Education master's graduates. (Right side is Doctoral, UG, C&I, EPPL, and EdS. The left side is SPACE masters students.) When you arrive, report to your program area. (There will be signage on the bottom floor of Kaplan to direct you.)
A staff member will provide you with a name card. You will provide that name card to the Associate Dean 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.
If you want to record your name so that the reader can be sure to pronounce it correctly, you can record https://namecoach.wm.edu/.
When the ceremony begins, the 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. See how to wear your regalia for more information. 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. (Guests may not enter Kaplan via the ramp at the back of the building; only students may enter this way.) Guests will be permitted to enter Kaplan starting at 11:30 a.m. 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 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 arrive with unacceptable items, the staff will send you to the tent on the northeast corner of the building for a bag/stroller check.
Graduation Celebration Program
Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
View the full program online and read about our student award winners.
Recessional
The ceremony will close with the dean and faculty leading the graduates off of the floor to the William & Mary Alma Mater. Graduates should plan to connect with family, friends and faculty outside of Kaplan arena.
(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 but are not required for the SOE event.)