Hundreds of Shippensburg University students will set sail this weekend during the graduate and undergraduate commencement ceremonies.

On May 6 at 7 p.m., SU’s graduate’s ceremony will take place in H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center. During the ceremony, guest speaker and SU Master’s graduate, Cori H. Sailhamer, will address the graduate students.

SU will host the undergraduate commencement ceremony at Seth Grove Stadium at 11 a.m., provided it does not rain.

If rain is expected to interrupt the proceedings, the ceremony will be split into two separate ceremonies. The 11 a.m. session will consist of the education, human services and business graduates, about half the size of the SU class of 2016. The college of arts and sciences commencement ceremony will be moved to Luhrs Performing Arts Center and begin at 7 p.m.

President of Operations Americas for Volvo Construction Equipment in Shippensburg Sean Glennon will be the guest speaker for the undergraduate ceremony, or ceremonies if inclement weather interferes with commencement.

For SU’s Executive Director of Communications and Marketing Peter Gigliotti, selecting an appropriate guest speaker for graduate students means finding inspirational SU master’s program graduates.

“We look for people that used SU as a launching platform for success,” Gigliotti said. “[Glennon has] done a lot of important work so he can inspire our graduating students,” Gigliotti said.

Gigliotti said graduation is a momentous occasion for both graduates and their families and friends.

“Mom, dad, brother, sister, grandparents, it’s a big day for them too,” Gigliotti said. “Many of our students are the first people in their family to graduate from college; it’s important their families are there to see that.”

Every SU student is given seven tickets for graduation. Due to limited seating, graduating students cannot receive more than their allotted amount of tickets.

Anyone seeking additional information can visit ship.edu/graduation. 

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