Students consider attending multiple graduation ceremonies

For most Pitt seniors, it’s finally graduation time. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have… For most Pitt seniors, it’s finally graduation time. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have more decisions to make.

Graduating seniors will have the opportunity to be recognized at a commencement service in two weeks, but some students won’t be attending.

The School of Arts and Sciences will host smaller receptions for each department of study, so students like Lacee Ecker will have a few graduate recognition events from which to choose.

‘I am going to the CBA (College of Business Administration) and political science department ones,’ said Ecker. ‘I have a public and professional writing certificate, but the recognition in the English department conflicts with the political science department ceremony.’

This year’s commencement speaker, cellular biologist and Pitt alumnus Bert W. O’Malley might not be able to influence students’ decisions to attend the University-wide ceremony. His name is widely unrecognized among seniors.

‘I never heard of him,’ said Gary Sanderson, who is enrolled in the School of Arts and Sciences and CBA. ‘I am not very sciencey, so maybe that’s why I haven’t heard of him. But I am still definitely going to the main graduation.’

Aside from the University-wide commencement ceremony on April 26 at 1 p.m., several Pitt schools will host their own graduate-recognition event.

‘The schools do the same thing each year,’ said Tiffany Hatch, Office of Special Events administrative assistant. ‘I have not seen any time conflict [with the University-wide ceremony].’

Ten schools with undergraduate programs will have different graduation events scheduled in the days leading up to and on the day of the University-wide ceremony. Students can decide whether to attend only their school’s recognition event or both.

The College of General Studies and the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences will hold a ceremony and reception on Friday, April 24. Graduates from the CGS will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association, while those graduating from the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences will hold their event at 6 p.m. in Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall.

‘I am going to the little one,’ said Cari Adams, a student in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. ‘I don’t know if I will go to the big one. It’s so long, and I won’t be recognized.’

The School of Nursing, the School of Engineering, and the CBA will each hold a recognition event for their graduates on April 25. The School of Nursing will host a dinner and pinning ceremony for nursing graduates at 6 p.m. in Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall. The School of Engineering will hold their senior recognition night at 7 p.m. in David Lawrence Hall. The CBA’s recognition ceremony will take place at 11:30 a.m. in the Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts.