Commencement
Commencement 2025
Elizabethtown College will celebrate its 122nd Commencement ceremony at the 2025 Commencement Exercises, held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 10 a.m. Both traditional and School of Graduate and Professional Studies candidates for degree conferral who complete all graduation requirements in the previous summer (August '24 degree conferral), fall (December '24 degree conferral), or spring (May '25 degree conferral) are recognized at this annual ceremony. Explore the digtal Baccalaureate Program and Commencement Program for a preview of the event schedules and highlights.
View the Commencement Campus Map View Commencement LivestreamsAll requirements, including the submission of the Application for Graduation, completion of the Commencement Participation Form, and purchase of full regalia, should have been completed by April 1. If your participation plans have changed or you have missed any of these deadlines, please contact the Office of Registration and Records directly.
Schedule of Events - Commencement 2025
Countdown to Commencement (Graduates Only)
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 9 - 11 a.m. |
Bean Bash Treats & Ticket PickupBlue Bean / BSC Concourse Enjoy coffee and baked goods while picking up tickets to the senior day activity of your choice. Registration is required. |
| 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
Senior Day ActivitiesOff-Campus Unwind and celebrate an afternoon of fun with your classmates at one of the following activities:
|
| 6 p.m. |
Champagne DinnerThe Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness and Well-Being Toast to the Class of 2025 and all of your accomplishments by enjoying a delicious meal with your classmates, complete with a champagne toast with President Betty Rider. Registration is required. |
Countdown to Commencement
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 7 - 10 a.m. |
One Step Closer BreakfastThe Marketplace Visit the Marketplace for breakfast before making your way to Commencement rehearsal. Please note that students must use a meal swipe, cash, credit, JayBucks, or campus charge to participate. Graduates |
| 10 a.m. - Noon |
RehearsalThompson Gymnasium Rehearsal serves as an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the Commencement Ceremony program to ensure a smooth event. You do not need to wear academic regalia to the rehearsal. All Commencement Ceremony participants are encouraged to attend. Graduates |
| Noon - 2 p.m. |
LunchThe Marketplace Enjoy lunch with classmates in the Marketplace. Please note that students must use a meal swipe, cash, credit, JayBucks, or campus charge to participate. Graduates |
| 2:30 - 5 p.m. |
Class of 2025 Field Day ActivitiesBowers Center Field House Relax with your classmates and enjoy an afternoon of games in the Bowers Center Field House! Conrad's Corner will be available from 3 to 5 p.m. Graduates |
| 3 - 4 p.m. |
Class of 2025 BingoBowers Center Field House Before crossing the Dell stage, join us for senior Bingo—a special send-off to one of Etown's favorite traditions! Unwind and play for prizes one last time with your class. Conrad's Corner will be available at the event. Graduates |
| 7 p.m. |
BaccalaureateLeffler Chapel & Performance Center Graduates and their families are invited to a memorable ceremony that offers an opportunity for graduates to reflect on their Elizabethtown College experience and features student voices and talents, along with the traditional Passing of the Light and Senior Litany. The campus community, along with friends, peers, and family members are welcome to attend. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Baccalaureate will be livestreamed for those not able to attend the in-person event. View the Baccalaureate program. Graduates | Faculty | Staff | Families | Friends |
Commencement Day
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 6:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. |
Complimentary Full BreakfastThe Marketplace View the Complimentary Breakfast Menu. To-go containers will not be offered at the Commencement Breakfast, but additional seating locations will be made available outside of the Marketplace as necessary. Graduates | Faculty | Staff | Families | Friends |
| 9 a.m. |
Line Up of GraduatesThompson Gymnasium Graduates |
| 9:40 a.m. |
Line Up of Class of 1975Alpha Hall Class of 1975 |
| 9:40 a.m. |
ProcessionThe Dell Graduates | Faculty |
| 10 a.m. |
Commencement CeremonyThe Dell (Inclement Weather Location: Thompson Gymnasium / Overflow: Leffler Chapel & Gibble Theater)
Graduates | Faculty | Staff | Families | Friends |
| Noon |
Light ReceptionBSC Patio Graduates | Faculty | Staff | Families | Friends |
| Noon |
Luncheon Class of 1975Susquehanna Room, Myer Hall Class of 1975 | Families (Class of 1975) |
| 6 p.m. |
Residence Halls Close for GraduatesGraduates participating in Commencement will need to depart their college housing by 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, unless they were approved by Residence Life for a late stay. Graduates |
2025 Commencement Speaker
S. Dale High ’63, H’93, P’86
Visionary Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
S. Dale High ’63, H’93, P’86, Chair Emeritus of High Industries Inc. and High Real Estate Group LLC, will serve as the 2025 Commencement speaker. Since joining the family business after graduating from Elizabethtown College in 1963, he has expanded the High companies to over 12 entities and nearly 2,000 employees across six states. Guided by his belief in business as a force for good, he established the High Foundation in 1980 to support economic growth and improve lives in Lancaster.
A longtime supporter of Elizabethtown College, High joined the Board of Trustees in 1972 and became an Emeritus Trustee in 1998. He helped establish the High Center for Family Business, one of the nation’s largest of its kind, and has generously contributed to campus projects, including the High Library, the Bowers Center for Sports Fitness and Well-being, and the Trostle Finance Laboratory, along with numerous funds and endowments.
Read More About S. Dale High ’63
Regalia, Class Rings, Diploma Frames and Graduation Invitations & Announcements
Regalia Information
All regalia items including caps, gowns, hoods, tassels, and additional accessories can be purchased online. Full regalia is required to participate in the ceremony. Orders will be shipped directly to you within 2-3 weeks of the date of ordering. The deadline to purchase regalia is April 1, 2025. Please contact the College Store with any questions. Any orders purchased after the deadline will be subject to an additional fee of $20. There is no guarantee that orders purchased after April 1 will be able to be filled.
- Associate/Bachelor's Regalia (cap, gown, tassel, and hood): $74.19 total (without shipping).
- Master's Regalia: $84.79 total (without shipping).
- PhD Regalia: $127.19 total (without shipping).
Prices include taxes but not shipping and handling.
Class Rings
A selection of Elizabethtown College class rings is now on display in the College Store and can also be purchased online through Balfour. All orders will ship directly from Balfour to the address provided.
Contact Etown's Balfour Representative Tina Stenman for assistance ordering class rings.
Diploma Frames and Insignia Gifts
Elizabethtown College diploma frames and insignia gift items by Church Hill Classics are available for purchase in the College Store or on the College Store online store.
Personalized Commencement Announcements and Graduation Party Invitations
Elizabethtown College's Print Services offers a unique and personalized way to commemorate graduation milestones through their Personalized Commencement Announcements and Graduation Party Invitations. Not only can you tailor these announcements to reflect the significance of your graduate's achievements, but the service also allows for the addition of custom images on a variety of products, ensuring that every detail of your celebration captures the essence of your graduate's journey. This comprehensive suite of options ensures that your graduate's accomplishments are celebrated in a way that is as special and distinct as they are.
Personalized Commencement Gifts
Elizabethtown College's Print Services is excited to offer a range of custom Commencement Gifts for the 2025 graduation ceremony. With a variety of options available, you're sure to find the perfect memento to celebrate this special occasion.
Graduate Photography
Senior Portraits
Prestige Portraits of Lifetouch will offer professional senior photos to the Class of 2025. These photos are free to have taken and are available for purchase from Lifetouch. Senior portrait opportunities will be offered in the McCormick Gallery in Leffler Chapel. Register now for portrait sessions.
Commencement Ceremony Photos
Professional photographs of each graduate receiving a degree will be available for purchase following the ceremony through Island Photography. Photo proofs will be delivered within 2-3 days after the Commencement ceremony. Prior to the ceremony, graduates are asked to complete a brief registration form and upload a selfie photo to assist with Island Photography's facial recognition software. Complete your registration. Questions or concerns can be directed to Island Photography by email or by calling 800-869-0908.
Frequently Asked Questions
General FAQ
If you have any questions, please contact commencement@etown.edu.
Visit our Around the Region page to explore the area surrounding Elizabethtown College and discover exclusive discounts from local businesses for College affiliates. Find information on accommodations, dining, and entertainment.
Class Rings can be purchased through Balfour. A selection of Elizabethtown College class rings is now on display in the College Store and can also be purchased online through Balfour. Contact Etown's Balfour Representative Tina Stenman for assistance with ordering class rings.
All regalia items including caps, gowns, hoods, tassels, and additional accessories can be purchased online. Orders are due by April 1, 2025.
Diploma Frames can be purchased through the College Store in-person or online. More options and personalization can be purchased at the Church Hill Classics site.
Yard signs can be ordered online through the Etown College Store.
Personalized Commencement Gifts can be ordered through Print Services and should be ordered by April 10, 2025, to be sure they are received by Commencement.
Elizabethtown College Print Services is offering personalized Commencement Announcements and Graduation Party Invitations. These must be ordered by April 10, 2025, to ensure they are ready prior to Commencement.
Yes, live closed-captioning services will be available for those in attendance at both the Commencement Ceremony and Baccalaureate, and can be accessed by scanning the QR code on the printed program available at the events.
Pre-Commencement FAQ
All graduates are required to have full regalia including a cap, gown, and tassel to participate in Commencement, which can be purchased online. The deadline to purchase regalia is April 1, 2025. Garments under regalia should be business casual or business. Shoes should be comfortable and shoes with a spiked heel are not recommended.
Families are encouraged to arrive in time to attend Baccalaureate on Friday, May 9 at 7 p.m.
You can arrive for Baccalaureate as early as 6:30 p.m.
Vehicles carrying our guests with a need for special accommodations may enter Alpha Drive and drop off passengers at the top of The Dell. Please be aware that the drive will be barricaded, and all vehicles carrying passengers with the need for special accommodations must stop and request access from the Campus Security personnel stationed at that location. On the morning of Commencement, access to Alpha Drive for this purpose only will be available before 9:45 a.m.
After dropping off passengers, the vehicle should follow Alpha Drive to the stop sign at Mount Joy Street. At the stop sign, please make a left and then proceed along Mount Joy Street to Cedar Street. At Cedar Street, please make a left and park in the lot behind Myer Hall. In addition to this lot, vehicles with the appropriate tags may use any spaces on campus that are designated as accessible parking spots.
In the event that the ceremony is relocated to Thompson Gymnasium, passengers needing special accommodations may be dropped off behind Thompson Gymnasium, and the vehicle may be parked in any available spots in the nearby lots. Our campus map denotes the locations of these lots.
Graduates are asked to notify the College ahead of time should any guests require mobility accommodations by emailing
commencement@etown.edu
.
Commencement Day FAQ
Tickets are not needed if the ceremony is held in The Dell. Family and friends may sit in the designated seating area (first come, first served) or bring their own lawn chairs or blankets to sit in the shaded areas of The Dell. The only reserved seating in The Dell is for attendees needing special accommodations and our graduates. Please note that seating provided by the College is not in a shaded area.
In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held inside Thompson Gymnasium with overflow in Leffler Chapel & Gibble Theater. Each graduate is eligible to claim three guest tickets. Tickets become available for pickup in the Office of Registration and Records, Zug Memorial Hall 210, on Monday, April 28, 2025. Weekday hours of operation: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Extended evening hours: Tuesday, May 6 - 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
If you are unable to pick up your tickets during these hours, please contact the Office of Registration and Records.
Tickets are only necessary if the ceremony is moved indoors because of severe inclement weather. Unfortunately, Thompson Gymnasium has limited seating. In the unlikely event that we would need to move the ceremony inside, we would have overflow seating in Leffler Chapel and Performance Center and Gibble Auditorium located in the Masters Center for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering, for anyone without a ticket.
Indoor viewing locations for the Commencement livestream will be available in Leffler Chapel and Performance Center. If the ceremony is moved indoors to Thompson Gymnasium due to inclement weather, then Gibble Auditorium located in the Masters Center for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering will also be available as a viewing location.
The Commencement Ceremony normally lasts about two hours.
Restrooms are available in Myer Residence Hall, Royer Residence Hall, Schlosser Residence Hall, and the Baugher Student Center. ADA Accessible restrooms will be available in Royer Residence Hall.
- The Marketplace will be open for a complimentary full breakfast from 6:30 to 10 a.m. View the Complimentary Breakfast Menu.
- The Jay's Nest will operate from 7 to 10 a.m. Please note that Made-To-Order options will be unavailable; however, convenience items will still be available for purchase.
- The Blue Bean Cafe will operate from 7 to 10 a.m.
- There will be a light reception on the BSC patio following the ceremony (if the ceremony is held in the Dell).
The list of candidates for graduation in the commencement program is compiled before final grades and graduation clearances are financialized; inclusion does not constitute evidence of graduation. Therefore, Latin Honors and Honors in the Discipline are only officially annotated on the transcript and diplomas.
The Commencement Ceremony will be livestreamed for those not able to attend the in-person event.
Post-Commencement FAQ
Diplomas will be mailed out within one week after grades have been finalized.
- Graduates participating in Commencement will need to depart their college housing by 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 10.
- Non-graduating students will depart 24 hours after their last in-person final or by 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 08, whichever comes first.
Students must adhere to the above departure schedule unless they were approved by Residence Life for a late stay.
Commencement 2024 Recap
Elizabethtown College held its 121st Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at 10 a.m. in the Dell, which served as a remarkable celebration of the accomplishments of both traditional students and School of Graduate and Professional Studies students. Check out some of the highlights from our 2024 Commencement below!