Students prepare to take the next step in their careers with graduation on May 4 at 9:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. The ceremonies will be held in the Willow Bowl for both graduate and undergraduate students.

“This really is a remarkable achievement for all these students,” said Jay Collier, director of college relations. “It’s always a great day. It’s no small matter to earn a college degree and to step up and take your place as a leader in the world.”

119 graduate and 381 undergraduate students will be receiving their diplomas. This will be the first time the graduate ceremony will be in the Willow Bowl on the same day as the undergraduate students.

“Usually the grad students are inside and the undergrad students are in the Willow Bowl,” Collier said. “We decided that everyone should get to graduate in the Willow Bowl.”

Graduate students will participate in the first ceremony at 9:30 p.m., and in case of bad weather will be relocated to Ramsey Theatre. Speakers for this ceremony include graduate Trevor Longe, Board of Trustees member John Chaney and graduate Alison Backer.

“The big thing about graduation for the grad ceremony if we have to hold it inside, tickets aren’t required,” Collier said. “There’s plenty of room obviously in Ramsey.”

The second ceremony for undergraduates will be at 1 p.m., and will have the Rice Auditorium as the back up for weather changes. Undergraduate Andrea Larson, Chaney, retiring Professor Donald Buryanek, Vice Chancellor for Academic Planning Dr. Jodi Kupper and undergraduate Andrey Naidenoff will all be speaking.

“If we have to be inside Rice, tickets are required,” Collier said. “We do have spill over seating in Ramsey for those people who are not able to get into Rice. They will have the big screen and will be showing a broadcast of the ceremony.”

To obtain tickets, each graduating student gets a packet from the registrar’s office that contains four tickets. Those students are then able to hand out the tickets to whoever they like.