Commencement 2010
By Charlotte Parrish
Coordinator of Special Events
(News from the Nest, Winter 2010)
Commencement activities will begin Friday, May 28, with a rehearsal for graduates only at 10:00 a.m. At 4:00 p.m. that day, the Baccalaureate service will be held in the Brock Center. Baccalaureate is an hour-long worship service for graduates and their families. Caps and gowns are not worn for Baccalaureate, and graduates will sit with their families. The service is led by The Reverend Darrell Headrick, College Chaplain.
Commencement will take place at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 29, at The Frank E. Brown Fountain Plaza. In the event of rain, Commencement will be held in the Brock Center. Should this happen, we must limit the number of guests each graduate may have. The number of tickets issued to each graduate will depend upon the number of graduating seniors. Currently, it appears that each graduate will be issued six tickets. Graduates may pick up their tickets from the Frank E. Brown Campus Center Friday, May 28, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Tickets not picked up by 4:00 p.m. Friday may be picked up Saturday, May 29, between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. in the Frank E. Brown Campus Center. Lost tickets will not be replaced. Should a light drizzle occur, once the ceremony has begun, Commencement will continue outdoors. However, in the event of heavy rain or the threat of an electrical storm after the start of the ceremony, and following instructions from the Provost, graduates and their sponsors will go directly to the Brock Center to be lined up properly. Other guests should seek immediate shelter and report to the Brock Center one hour later, at which time the ceremony will resume. Guests who do not have Commencement tickets admitting them into the Brock Center can go to Blackwell Auditorium to view the Commencement Exercises on television.
Randolph-Macon’s Commencement ceremony includes the placing of an academic hood on the graduating senior by a sponsor of the student’s choosing. All graduates and sponsors need to assemble at 9:00 a.m. on Commencement Day on the Jordan Wheat Lambert Historic Campus. Sponsors will carry their graduate’s hood during the processional. In the event of rain, students and sponsors will assemble in Crenshaw Gymnasium at 9:00 a.m.
As each graduate receives his or her diploma from President Lindgren, an official graduation photograph will be taken. Please remind your graduate to dress appropriately.
We will offer prearranged parking for the disabled. Please note, however, that special parking for persons with disabilities will be provided for one car per family only and to those who have a ticket from R-MC entitled “Parking for Persons with Disabilities.” If you or someone in your party is hearing impaired and will require the services of a sign language interpreter, please contact me at 804-752-7238 or cparrish@rmc.edu so that accommodations can be made.
Lunch will be served immediately following Commencement, Noon-1:30 p.m., on the grounds near the McGraw-Page Library. For further details, see "Commencement" link on the Parents website http://www.rmc.edu/Parents.aspx