With the end of the semester near, one thing that is on many students’ minds is graduation. On Thursday, May 21, 2015, the undergraduate class of 2015 will be leaving Kean University and entering the real world. But before that day comes, there are a few facts for those who are graduating need to know.
For starters, the commencement will be held at the Prudential Center located in Newark, New Jersey (NJ). The commencement will begin at 8:30 a.m. but graduates must be there by 7 a.m. wearing their cap and gown and holding their reader card. All graduating students must meet at the Lafayette Tower entrance in order to begin lineup. From there, Kean University marshals will help direct the students to appropriate sitting areas.
Each student receives six tickets for guests. All guests are advised to arrive early to the commencement as they are allowed to choose their seats. Students will receive a ticket voucher when they pick up their cap and gown. They are to fill out the voucher and give the voucher to a personnel at the Wilkins Theatre Box Office in order to receive the tickets.
Guests can enter the Prudential Center through the entrance of PNC Bank Tower one of three ways: the northeast corner located on Mulberry and Edison Place, the Lafayette Tower located on the corner of Mulberry and Lafayette, or the Lafayette Street Entrance, which is located on Lafayette Street.
Before the big day comes, all graduates need to remember to pick up all necessary items for the commencement, such as cap and gown. All cap and gowns can be picked up throughout the week of May 11, 2015 through May 15, 2015, in University Center (UC) room 228.
For those who pre-ordered their cap and gown online received priority pick-up and can pick up their cap and gown on Monday, May 11 and Tuesday, May 12. Each date has varying times, which are listed below.
Monday, May 11 through Thursday, May 14: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday, May 15: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Kean Ocean students: Monday, May 11 through Wednesday, May 13 in Gateway Building room 223 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and again on Thursday, May 14 through Friday May 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The commencement speaker will be playwright, actor, and New York University (NYU) professor Anna Deavere Smith. She has written many plays, including Fires in the Mirror and Twilight: Los Angeles, and has won several awards, such as the National Humanities Medal and the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize. Currently, Smith is working on another play that will focus its attention on United States’ education.
Anna Deavere Smith
Photo courtesy of kean.edu
At the commencement, William Loehning, a member of Kean University undergraduate class of 1970, will also be present. Loehning will receive an Honorary Degree in business during the commencement ceremony due to his many successful years in business. Loehning was inducted into the Insurance Retirement Institute Hall of Fame in 2009, as well as the William Livingston Award for Excellence in Business and Philanthropy. He has recently retired from Fidelity Financial Advisor Solutions (FFAS) as Vice President. In honor of his years working for the company, FFAS created the Bill Loehning Award for Sales Excellence, which will be awarded to the top sales person every year.
William Loehning
Photo courtesy of kean.edu
The most important date for all graduating students to remember is May 21, 2015, because, well…it’s graduation! So get excited, just one more week left until all graduating students can raise their caps in the air and finally take their first few steps into the real world.
