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Commencement

Commencement 2024

Elizabethtown College will celebrate its 121st Commencement ceremony at the 2024 Commencement Exercises, held on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 10 a.m. Both traditional and School of Graduate and Professional Studies candidates for degree conferral who complete all graduation requirements in the previous summer (August '23 degree conferral), fall (December '23 degree conferral) or spring (May '24 degree conferral) are recognized at this annual ceremony.

More details about the Commencement ceremony for the Class of 2024 will be shared here as they become available. For other important dates, please reference the 2023-2024 Academic Calendar.

Steps to Participate in the Commencement Ceremony

1

Currently enrolled students anticipating completion of all degree requirements must submit an Application for Graduation by Thursday, April 11.

2

All eligible graduates should complete the Commencement Participation Form indicating if they will or will not participate in the 2024 Commencement Exercises. The deadline to complete the form is Thursday, April 11. Please contact the Office of Registration and Records directly if your participation plans change or you miss the deadline for participation.

3

Full regalia is required to participate in the ceremony. The deadline to purchase regalia is Thursday, April 11.

Schedule of Events - Commencement 2024

Graduation Fair (Graduates Only)

Time Event
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Graduation Fair

BSC Concourse

Countdown to Commencement (Graduates Only)

Time Event
9 a.m.
Bean Bash Coffee Hour/Event Registration

BSC Concourse

11 a.m.
Senior Day Activities

TBA

6 p.m.
Champagne Dinner

The Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness and Well-Being

Countdown to Commencement

Time Event
7 - 10:30 a.m.
One Step Closer Breakfast

The Marketplace

Graduates

10:30 a.m. - Noon
Rehearsal

The Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness and Well-Being

Graduates

Noon - 2 p.m.
Lunch

The Marketplace

Graduates

Noon - 5 p.m.
Student Activities

TBA

Graduates

7 p.m.
Baccalaureate

Leffler Chapel & Performance Center

Graduates | Faculty | Staff | Families | Friends

Commencement Day

Time Event
6:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Complimentary Full Breakfast

Marketplace / BSC Concourse

View the Complimentary Breakfast Menu. To-go containers will not be offered at the Commencement Breakfast, but additional seating locations will be made available outside of the Marketplace as necessary.

Graduates | Faculty | Staff | Families | Friends

9 a.m.
Line Up of Graduates

TBA

Graduates

9:30 a.m.
Line Up of Class of 1974

Outside Myer Hall

Class of 1974

9:40 a.m.
Faculty Serpentine

The Dell

Graduates | Faculty

10 a.m.
Commencement Ceremony

The Dell (Inclement Weather Location: The Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness and Well-Being / Overflow: Leffler Chapel & Gibble Theater)

  • No tickets required if the ceremony is held outside on the Dell.
  • If there is inclement weather, each graduate is eligible to claim (3) tickets. Tickets will be available in mid-April through the Registration & Records office located in Zug Hall. Specific dates and details regarding picking up tickets will be provided by the office of Registration & Records at a later date.

Graduates | Faculty | Staff | Families | Friends

11:30 a.m.
Light Reception

BSC Patio (Inclement Weather Location: TBA)

Graduates | Faculty | Staff | Families | Friends

Noon
Luncheon Class of 1974

Susquehanna Room, Myer Hall

Class of 1974 | Families (Class of 1974)

2024 Commencement Speaker

Brianna Wiest '13

International Best-Selling Author


Brianna Wiest ’13, a bestselling author and Elizabethtown College alumna, will be the 2024 Commencement speaker. As a student, Wiest was the Etownian’s editor-in-chief and graduated in three years with a degree in English Professional Writing and a minor in Gender Studies.

Her journey in writing began over a decade ago, leading to several bestsellers, including "101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think" and "The Mountain Is You". Her works, translated into 30+ languages and selling over a million copies worldwide, focus on empowerment, self-reflection, and healing. Her latest book, "The Pivot Year", has gained international acclaim.

Read More About Brianna Wiest
Brianna Wiest Headshot

“I am beyond honored to have been invited to share in this incredible moment for the Elizabethtown College graduates of 2024.”

-Brianna Wiest '13

Regalia, Class Rings, Diploma Frames and Graduation Invitations & Announcements

Regalia Information

All regalia items including caps, gowns, hoods, tassels, and additional accessories can be purchased online. Full regalia is required to participate in the ceremony. Orders will be shipped directly to you within 2-3 weeks of the date of ordering. The deadline to purchase regalia is April 11, 2024. Please contact Debra Schwanke in the College Store with any questions. Any orders purchased after the deadline will be subject to an additional fee of $20. There is no guarantee that orders purchased after April 11 will be able to be filled.

  • Bachelor's Regalia (cap, gown, tassel, and hood): $74.19 total (without shipping).
  • Master's Regalia: $84.79 total (without shipping).
  • PhD Regalia: $127.19 total (without shipping).

Prices include taxes but not shipping and handling.

Class Rings

A selection of Elizabethtown College class rings is now on display in the College Store and can also be purchased online through Balfour. All orders will ship directly from Balfour to the address provided.

Contact Etown's Balfour Representative Tina Stenman for assistance and ordering class rings.

Diploma Frames and Insignia Gifts

Elizabethtown College diploma frames and insignia gift items by Church Hill Classics are available for purchase in the College Store or on the College Store online store.

Personalized Commencement Announcements and Graduation Party Invitations

Elizabethtown College's Print Services offers a unique and personalized way to commemorate graduation milestones through their Personalized Commencement Announcements and Graduation Party Invitations. Not only can you tailor these announcements to reflect the significance of your graduate's achievements, but the service also allows for the addition of custom images on a variety of products, ensuring that every detail of your celebration captures the essence of your graduate's journey. This comprehensive suite of options ensures that your graduate's accomplishments are celebrated in a way that is as special and distinct as they are.

Personalized Commencement Gifts

Elizabethtown College's Print Services is excited to offer a range of custom Commencement Gifts for the 2024 graduation ceremony. With a variety of options available across different price points, you're sure to find the perfect memento to celebrate this special occasion.

Graduate Photography

Commencement Ceremony Photos

After exiting the stage, graduates will have their photo taken by Island Photography, and will have the opportunity to purchase these photos after the ceremony. Please complete the 'Selfie Check-In' process on their registration website. This process greatly increases identification accuracy through facial recognition and increases the speed of delivery of proofs.

Lifetouch Senior Photos

Elizabethtown College offers senior portrait sessions for traditional Etown students as a memorable way to mark the end of your journey with us. These complimentary sessions will allow you to select your preferred yearbook pose at no cost, with options to purchase additional professional and commemorative photos.

  • Booking and Selection: Reserve your session here. Once the photos are taken, you can select your free yearbook pose post-session. All portraits will be available for purchase.
  • Dress Code: Please wear Business Attire (caps and gowns will be provided).
  • Location: Leffler Chapel, McCormick Gallery
  • Yearbook Purchase: Don’t forget to purchase your yearbook at Balfour's website for a keepsake of this year's memories.

Frequently Asked Questions

General FAQ

If you have any questions, please contact commencement@etown.edu.

These items can all be purchased through Balfour. A selection of Elizabethtown College class rings is now on display in the College Store and can also be purchased online through Balfour.

All regalia items including caps, gowns, hoods, tassels, and additional accessories can be purchased online. Orders are due by April 11, 2024.

Diploma Frames can be purchased through the College Store in-person or online. More options and personalization can be purchased at the Church Hill Classics site.

Yard signs can be ordered online through the  Etown College Store .

Personalized Commencement Gifts can be ordered through Print Services and should be ordered by April 11, 2024 to be sure they are received by Commencement.

Elizabethtown College Print Services is offering personalized Commencement Announcements and Graduation Party Invitations. These must be ordered by April 1 to ensure they are ready in time.  

Pre-Commencement FAQ

All graduates are required to have full regalia including a cap, gown, and tassel to participate in Commencement, which can be purchased online. The deadline to purchase regalia is April 11, 2024. Garments under regalia should be business casual or business. Shoes should be comfortable and shoes with a spiked heel are not recommended.

Families are encouraged to arrive in time to attend Baccalaureate on Friday, May 10 at 7 p.m.

You can arrive for Baccalaureate as early as 6:30 p.m.

Vehicles carrying our guests with a need for special accommodations may enter Alpha Drive and drop off passengers at the top of The Dell. Please be aware that the drive will be barricaded, and all vehicles carrying passengers with the need for special accommodations must stop and request access from the Campus Security personnel stationed at that location. On the morning of Commencement, access to Alpha Drive for this purpose only will be available before 9:45 a.m.

After dropping off passengers, the vehicle should follow Alpha Drive to the stop sign at Mount Joy Street. At the stop sign, please make a left and then proceed along Mount Joy Street to Cedar Street. At Cedar Street, please make a left and park in the lot behind Myer Hall. In addition to this lot, vehicles with the appropriate tags may use any spaces on campus that are designated as accessible parking spots.

In the event that the ceremony is relocated to the Bowers Center, passengers needing special accommodations may be dropped off near the Bowers Center, and the vehicle may be parked in any available spots in the nearby lots. Our campus map denotes the locations of these lots. If additional is required, Campus Safety can be reached at 717-361-1263.

Graduates are asked to notify the College ahead of time should any guests require mobility accommodations by emailing commencement@etown.edu  .

Commencement Day FAQ

Tickets are not needed if the ceremony is held in The Dell. Family and friends may sit in the designated seating area (first come, first served) or bring their own lawn chairs or blankets to sit in the shaded areas of The Dell. The only reserved seating in The Dell is for attendees needing special accommodations and our graduates. Please note that seating provided by the College is not in a shaded area.

In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held inside The Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness and Well-Being with overflow in Leffler Chapel & Gibble Theater. Each graduate is eligible to claim three guest tickets. Tickets become available for pickup in the Office of Registration and Records, Zug Memorial Hall 210, on Monday, April 29, 2024. Weekday hours of operation: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Extended evening hours are available on Wednesday May 1 , from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are only necessary if the ceremony is moved indoors because of severe inclement weather. Unfortunately, the Bowers Center has limited seating. In the unlikely event that we would need to move the ceremony inside, we would have overflow seating in Leffler Chapel and Performance Center and Gibble Auditorium located in the Masters Center for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering, for anyone without a ticket.

Indoor viewing locations for the Commencement livestream will be available in Leffler Chapel and Performance Center. If the ceremony is moved indoors to The Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness, and Well-Being due to inclement weather, then Gibble Auditorium located in the Masters Center for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering will also be available as a viewing location.

Restrooms are available in Schlosser Residence Hall, Myer Residence Hall and Royer Residence Hall*. Locations are at the bottom and top of the Dell respectively.

*Royer Residence hall is ADA Accessible

The Commencement Ceremony normally lasts about two hours.

The list of candidates for graduation in the commencement program are compiled before final grades and graduation clearances are financialized; inclusion does not constitute evidence of graduation. Therefore, Latin Honors and Honors in the Discipline are officially annotated on the graduates transcript and diplomas.

The Commencement Ceremony will be livestreamed for those not able to attend the in-person event.

  • The Marketplace will be open for a complimentary full breakfast from 6:30 to 10 a.m. View the Complimentary Breakfast Menu.
    • To-go containers will not be offered at the Commencement Breakfast, but additional seating locations will be made available outside of the Marketplace as necessary.
  • The Jay's Nest will operate from 7 to 10 a.m. Please note that Made-To-Order options will be unavailable; however, convenience items will still be available for purchase.
  • The Blue Bean Cafe will operate from 7 to 10 a.m.
  • There will be a light reception on the BSC patio following the ceremony.

Post-Commencement FAQ

Diplomas will be mailed out within one week after grades have been finalized.

  • Graduates participating in Commencement will need to depart their college housing by 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 11.
  • Non-graduating students will depart 24 hours after their last in-person final or by 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 09.
  • RA's will depart by 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 12.
Students will be provided with the option to request a late stay, via a form that will be emailed to all graduates.

Commencement 2023 Recap

Elizabethtown College held its 120th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 10 a.m. in the Dell, which served as a remarkable celebration of the accomplishments of both traditional students and School of Graduate and Professional Studies students. Check out some of the highlights from our 2023 Commencement below!

Elizabethtown College