2024 graduates, families, and friends, welcome to the 2024 Commencement Ceremony Information Page! On this page you will find useful information about the 2024 Commencement Ceremony. We look forward to sharing this evening of accomplishment with you all on Friday, May 10th at 6:30pm at the Berglund Center.
Cap and Gown Pick Up
Thursday, April 25, 2024 – Student Life Center 3rd Floor
Cap and Gown Pick Up will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2024, from 9am until 4pm on the 3rd floor of the Student Life Center during Spring Fling.
Try on your cap and gown as soon as you pick them up to make sure they fit. Contact the Bookstore if there are any problems. To minimize wrinkles, hang up the gown for a few days and if needed, lightly press your gown on low setting prior to graduation.
Rehearsal
Friday, May 10, 2024 at 2:30 PM – Berglund Hall (between the Coliseum and the Performing Arts Theatre)
Participating graduates must attend commencement rehearsal. Rehearsal begins promptly at 2:30pm at the Berglund Center and lasts approximately two and half hours. VWCC will provide food for the graduates after rehearsal.
You do not have to wear your regalia for rehearsal, but you should bring it with you. Please be sure to follow the VWCC Student Regalia Guidelines (below).
VWCC Student Regalia Guidelines
Basic regalia items for Virginia Western for the 2024 Commencement Ceremony will consist of a black gown, hood, cap, and tassel.
No honor items will be furnished by Virginia Western. Students may be members of several honor societies. Each society may offer mementoes and commencement regalia items for students to purchase.
For the 2024 ceremony, the student may wear:
- only one (1) tassel,
- multiple honor cords,
- only one (1) medallion.
CAPS – Caps should be worn FLAT (parallel to the floor) on your head and secured with hairpins if necessary.
GOWNS – Because your gowns are a dark color, commencement protocol suggests you wear dark accessories: shoes, slacks, etc. This ensures a uniform appearance to the ceremony and highlights the colors of the stole, tassels, and honors you earned.
Commencement Ceremony
Friday, May 10, 2024 at 6:30 PM – Berglund Center
Line up for graduates, faculty, and platform begins at 6:00 PM – Bergland Hall
Commencement will be at the Berglund Center Coliseum, 710 Williamson Road, Roanoke, VA 24016, on Friday, May 10, 2024, at 6:30 PM.
Graduates need to arrive at Berglund Hall at the Berglund Center by 5:30 PM in academic regalia. Do not carry extra objects with you. Lock purses and valuables in the trunk of your car.
Berglund Center doors will open for guests at 5:00 PM. The Commencement Ceremony will begin promptly at 6:30 PM and last approximately 2 1/2 hours.
There is no restriction or limit on the number of guests you may invite. We do not use tickets for this event.
Please advise guests to plan to arrive early as there will be a bag check prior to entry. Please review the Berglund Center’s Clear Bag Policy prior to arrival.
Parking is free. Click here for directions to the Berglund Center.
Flowers and T-Shirts
Parents, family members, supporters, and friends of VWCC graduates will have the opportunity to purchase flowers before the ceremony to celebrate this momentous day. You may also purchase a commemorative VWCC Class of 2024 t-shirt to mark the big day. Please visit the vendor site to pre-order an arrangement or a t-shirt.
Accommodations
All accessible guest seating is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Every effort will be made on the day of an event to accommodate those needing accessible seating, but all such seating is based on availability. Guests needing assistance should enter the Berglund Center at Gate 2.
Services are available to graduates attending commencement who may require specific accommodations based on a disability. These services vary. If you require accommodations, please email the VWCC Records Office by May 3, 2024.
Live Stream
The College will be live-streaming the 2024 Commencement Ceremony on YouTube. The live stream will also be linked from the front page of the college website on the day of Commencement.
Photography
Parents and guests may take photos during the commencement ceremony. However, guests may take photos and videos ONLY from the guest seating areas. Guests are not permitted on the coliseum floor area during the event. Please inform your guests of this policy. Graduates, families, and friends may use the stage area for photos after the ceremony.
During the ceremony, Photo Specialties of North Carolina will take pictures of students shaking hands with Dr. Sandel, Virginia Western’s president. They will reach out to students through VWCC email with photo proofs and purchasing options approximately 3 weeks after the ceremony. VWCC is not involved in the purchase of photos through Photo Specialties, and all communications will be directly with the vendor.
