Commencement and Baccalaureate

Bridgewater College’s 2012 Baccalaureate and Commencement

• Baccalaureate service: Friday, May 11, 2012
  5 p.m. - Reception, Kline Campus Center
  6 p.m. - Baccalaureate - Nininger Hall
• Commencement exercises: Saturday, May 12, 2012
  10 a.m. - Campus Mall (Rain Location is Nininger Hall)

Speakers
Dr. Robert Neff, president emeritus of Juniata College, will give the baccalaureate message, entitled “Justice 2012.” Dr. Neff is currently an associate for resource development at The Village at Morrisons Cover. He is also an author, former professor at Bethany Theological Seminary and past general secretary of the Church of the Brethren. Dr. Neff received a B.S. from The Pennsylvania State University, and B.D., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Yale University.

Dr. Darla K. Deardorff, Bridgewater College class of 1992, will deliver the commencement address. Dr. Deardorff, who will speak on “Words to Live By,” received an M.Ed. and Ed.D. from North Carolina State University and is currently the executive director of the Association of International Education Administrators at Duke University. She is a distinguished speaker, author and teacher who has been invited to speak worldwide at institutions and conferences, including several UN-related events.

Commencement Rehearsal
Commencement rehearsal will be held on Tuesday, May 8, 2 - 4 p.m. in Nininger Hall.

Baccalaureate Reception
Each senior will receive one complimentary ticket for the Baccalaureate Reception to be held on Friday evening. Chartwells will be present following the Commencement rehearsal to sell additional tickets for the reception. Guests may also pay at the door. Cost is $7 per ticket.

Commencement Seating and Tickets
Commencement will be held on the campus mall. Seniors will receive four reserved-seating Commencement tickets for family and friends. A senior may invite more than four guests to Commencement. The four guests with tickets will be seated in reserved seating; others will be seated in the open seating area. Tickets will be received after Tuesday’s rehearsal and then held for pick-up at the front desk in the Kline Campus Center. Tickets are not required for the Baccalaureate service on Friday evening.

In case of rain, Commencement will be held in Nininger Hall. Processionals for Baccalaureate and Commencement will also form in Nininger. Commencement seating for guests will be limited to four reserved seats per Senior (tickets required). In the event Commencement is held in Nininger, only those guests with tickets will be seated. Others may watch the ceremony on the screen in Cole Hall and other campus locations.

Accommodations for Families
Parents and guests should make necessary motel/hotel reservations as soon as possible. The closest motels to campus are Crimson Inn and The Village Inn. Visit our places to stay page for other accommodations available in the greater Harrisonburg/Staunton area.

Residence Hall Checkout
Residence hall checkout should be completed by 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 12. Exceptions need to be cleared through Student Life.

Photos
A group photo of the Class of 2012 will be taken at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday, May 12 on the steps of Blue Ridge Hall by Showalter Imaging Group. Individual photos will be taken of each senior receiving their diploma from President Cornelius at the commencement ceremony. Photos may be viewed and ordered online at www.king1hourphoto.com. This commercial organization is providing services for those who are interested and the cost for these services will be detailed by the studios.

If you have questions or concerns regarding Commencement, please contact:

Dr. Carol Scheppard
Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs
540-828-5608
cscheppa@bridgewater.edu