Class of 2017 will celebrate Commencement on May 14

On May 14, Mother’s Day Sunday, the family and friends of 215 Cornell College graduates will celebrate their success at the college’s 159th annual Commencement. 

The ceremony for the class of 2017 starts at 10 a.m. and will be held, weather-permitting, outdoors on the quad bordered by South Hall, College Hall, and Norton Geology. No tickets are required. Guests should be seated by 9:45 a.m.

Commencement will feature a faculty speaker and a senior speaker. Cassidy Kelly ’17 was selected as the student speaker. She is from Chicago and is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in economics and business. Associate Professor of Sociology Tori Barnes-Brus, a 1997 graduate of Cornell, was selected as the faculty speaker. The graduating class nominates the speakers. Then seniors vote for one of the top three student nominees, while the president and dean of the college select the faculty speaker out of the top three nominees.

After commencement, each graduate receives three complimentary tickets for brunch at the Hilltop Café.

If the commencement ceremony is moved indoors due to weather, it will be held at the Richard and Norma Small Multi-Sport Center. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m.

Baccalaureate will occur from 3-4 p.m. on Saturday, May 13, at King Chapel. The college is asking guests to be seated by 2:45 p.m. This Cornell tradition features playful and meaningful words of gratitude from graduating seniors on behalf of their faculty, family, staff, and friends, and inter-spiritual wisdom for the life journey which includes a message by Chaplain of the College Catherine Quehl-Engel, a 1989 Cornell graduate.

Other events are also scheduled throughout the weekend.

Follow the event on social media with #CornellCGrad.