147th Commencement Ceremony

Saturday, May 12 at 11 a.m.

Final exams will conclude on Friday, May 11, 2018 and the Keystone College Commencement Ceremony will take place the following day, Saturday, May 12 at 11 a.m – 1 p.m. at the Pavilion at Montage Mountain. Senior Celebration activities are scheduled for Thursday, May 10, and Friday, May 11. The Hooding Ceremony for master’s degree candidates will be conducted on Friday, May 11 at 6 p.m. in Evans Hall at Keystone College.

COMMENCEMENT DETAILS

With seating for 7,000 available, tickets are not required for Commencement exercises at the Pavilion at Montage Mountain. Gates open at 9:30 a.m. In order to facilitate quick and efficient seating, we ask that guests do not save seats for late arriving guests. Seating for guests with disabilities is available.

Special Assistance Please inform the event staff of your needs and you will be directed accordingly. To obtain a permit for handicap accessible parking, please send a written request to: Elena O’Connor, Director of Special Events Keystone College PO Box 50 La Plume, PA 18440 First Aid and Medical Assistance Keystone College Health Services personnel will be on site and can provide non-emergency service. Emergency medical personnel will also be on site.

Keystone College Dining Services will operate a hospitality area on the Pavilion grounds beginning at 9:30 a.m. Guests are welcome to enjoy complimentary snacks and beverages.

Keystone College’s Commencement Exercises will be held outdoors at the Pavilion at Montage Mountain regardless of weather conditions. In the event of extreme weather (thunderstorm), Commencement will be delayed and guests will be asked to return to their vehicles until the storm passes. Weather during May in Northeastern Pennsylvania is quite unpredictable. We ask that graduates and their families monitor the weather forecast and prepare accordingly.

For the health and safety of our guests and the cleanliness of event grounds, animals of any type/size, with the exception of service animals with proper documentation, are not permitted.

INFORMATION FOR GRADUATES

While recognizing that Commencement is a celebration for our graduates, it is important for students to remember that it is also a formal academic ceremony to be conducted with dignity and decorum. Unruly or disruptive behavior that may disrupt the ceremony is prohibited and graduates are asked to celebrate their accomplishments in a way that does not disrupt the ceremony. Courtesy also requires that graduates remain in their seats during the ceremony until instructed to move to the stage area. Cell phones/smart phones should be turned off during the ceremony. Graduates should refrain from using hoverboards and skateboards.

Students often inquire about acceptable attire for Commencement exercises. Following please find a list of suggested attire: Men should arrive in dress shirts, dark ties, dark dress pants, dark socks, and dark shoes. Women should arrive in dresses, slacks or pantsuits and dark shoes with low heels. No flowers or decorations may be worn or carried. Also, bring bobby pins to secure your mortarboard (cap). Women may wear their academic caps throughout the ceremony. Men should remove their caps for the invocation, National Anthem, and benediction.

Formal invitations (announcements) will be issued by Keystone College for families and friends of graduates at Grad Finale. If the graduating student does not attend Grad Finale, he/she is responsible to pick up the invitations at the College’s Campus Shoppe. With seating for 7,000 available, tickets are not required for Commencement at the Pavilion at Montage Mountain. Gates open at 9:30 a.m.

All graduates should arrive at the Pavilion at Montage Mountain no later than 9:30 a.m. on Commencement day.

9:30 a.m. Graduate Check-In

Proceed down the hill and behind the stage to the tent located backstage and adjacent to the Pavilion where you will receive a numbered place card. Honors cords and veterans cords will be distributed to eligible graduates at this time and grads will be directed to a robing and line-up tent.

9:45 a.m. Line up

Graduates and faculty report to the large tent located backstage and adjacent to check-in. All individuals should take their place in line as directed by Assistant Marshals. Students will line-up numerically and alphabetically by division: School of Professional Studies

Master of Education (alpha order)
Master of Science in Accountancy (alpha order)
Master of Science in Sport Leadership (alpha order)
Management (alpha order)
Bachelor of Science (alpha by program)
Associate of Science Degree (alpha by program)
Associate of Applied Science (alpha by program)
Certificates (alpha by program)

School of Arts and Sciences

Bachelor of Arts (alpha by program)
Bachelor of Science (alpha by program)
Associate of Arts (alpha by program)
Associate of Science (alpha by program)
Associate of Fine Arts (alpha by program)

10:45 a.m. Academic procession

11:00 a.m. Commencement exercises begin

Conclusion (approx. 1 p.m.)

At the conclusion of the Commencement exercises, the stage party, followed by trustees, faculty, administrators, and staff, will recess at the direction of the Assistant Marshals, forming a double line from in front of the stage, through the Pavilion toward the entrance gates. On direction, graduates will march by twos between the double line of trustees, faculty, administrators, and staff, breaking formation at the end of the double line. Please wait for your graduate to emerge from the double line.

A photographer from Grad Images will take a candid photograph of graduates as they receive their diploma and a posed photo. Candidates will receive a free passport sized digital proof of these photos within 5-7 days following Commencement. Since professional photography will be available, family members and guests are encouraged to remain in their seats, relax, and enjoy the ceremony.

Master’s Hooding Ceremony

In addition to the traditional Commencement ceremonies, graduate students also attend a Hooding Ceremony, a long standing academic tradition that emphasizes the accomplishment of earning an advanced degree by having the student hooded by a faculty member.

Friday, May 11, 2018 – Registration 5 p.m., Ceremony 6 p.m.
Evans Hall, Hibbard Campus Center

Learn more.

MAPS AND DIRECTIONS TO COMMENCEMENT

Pavilion at Montage Mountain

DIRECTIONS TO MONTAGE

GPS address for the Pavilion at Montage Mountain is 1000 Montage Mountain Road, Moosic, PA 18507.

From the North
Interstate 81 South to Montage Mountain Road (Exit 182A); Merge onto Davis Street; Right onto Montage Mountain Road to the Pavilion at Montage Mountain.

From the South
Via Interstate 81: North to Montage Mountain Road (Exit 182 toward Davis Street); Right onto Montage Mountain Road to the Pavilion at Montage Mountain.

Via Pennsylvania Turnpike: Interstate 476 North to Wyoming Valley (Exit 115); 315 North to Interstate 81 North (Scranton); North to Montage Mountain Road (Exit 182 toward Davis Street); Right onto Montage Mountain Road to the Pavilion at Montage Mountain.

From the New York City Area:
Interstate 80 West to Interstate 380 North to Interstate 81 South to Montage Mountain Road (Exit 182A); Merge onto Davis Street; Right onto Montage Mountain Road to the Pavilion at Montage Mountain.

From the West:
Interstate 80 East to Interstate 81 North (Exit 182 toward Davis Street); Right onto Montage Mountain Road to the Pavilion at Montage Mountain.

PARKING AT MONTAGE

Parking at the Pavilion at Montage Mountain is free and parking attendants will be on hand to direct traffic both before and after the ceremony. Parking for persons with disabilities is available at the bottom of the main access road; you should stay in the left lane as you enter the Pavilion grounds.

To obtain a permit for handicap accessible parking, please send a written request to:

Elena O’Connor, Director of Special Events
570-945-8160
Keystone College
PO Box 50
La Plume, PA 18440

The Pavilion offers a number of accessible seating areas in sections 101, 103, 201, and 206. Please notify an usher of your needs and you will be directed to the appropriate section. In order to best serve persons with disabilities, we ask that no more than two persons sit with guests with disabilities.

In order to facilitate quick and efficient seating, we ask that guests do not save seats for later arriving guests. We also ask that you please refrain from bringing laser pointers. They are dangerous to everyone’s eyes and can cause problems with the technical equipment.

Download Parking Map

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Gifts from the Campus Shoppe (Bookstore)

Flower arrangements will be available for purchase at the Pavilion at Montage. The Keystone College Campus Shoppe will sell diploma frames and Keystone College merchandise prior to Commencement. Visit the Campus Shoppe web site to place an order in advance. Orders must be placed by noon on May 10 and pre-ordered items will be available for pick-up at the Campus Shoppe Gazebo located just inside the main entrance to the Pavilion on graduation day.