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Grambling State University Provides Guidelines, Information for 2015 Fall Commencement Events

Grambling State University is scheduled to include approximately 360 participants in the 2015 Fall Commencement at 10 a.m. Dec. 18 at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center. The commencement speaker is Denise Young-Smith, vice president of worldwide human resources at Apple.

GSU is providing several ways that proud caregivers, parents, relatives and friends can watch the fall commencement. In addition, the university has provided some guidelines and helpful information for those who will be attending commencement.

CEREMONY PARTICIPANTS

Commencement Rehearsal for students participating in the 2015 Fall Commencement ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16 at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center. On Dec. 18, graduates should arrive at the Assembly Center at 7:30 a.m., while faculty, staff and students participating in the ceremony will assemble at 8:30 a.m.

POST-COMMENCEMENT RECEPTION

A commencement reception will be held in McCall Dining Hall immediately following the event. Graduates and their guests are invited to participate. Participants attending the reception, which will feature light refreshments, are asked to park in designated parking locations. Violators may be towed.

PARKING 

Visitors attending the commencement at the Assembly Center are asked to park in the designated locations. There will be a drop-off and pick-up area in front of the Assembly Center for those who are disabled and those with special circumstances and special needs, but this is not a parking area. Commencement participants are asked to park in the parking spaces near the Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium sign closest to the Conrad Hutchinson Performing Arts Center to allow family and friends to park closest to the Assembly Center.

ARRIVAL/SEATING

The doors to the Assembly Center will open at 7 a.m. No visitors will be allowed to enter the Assembly Center before 7 a.m. All audience members should arrange for their parties to be seated at the same time. SAVING SEATS FOR OTHERS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. Ushers will be monitoring the rows to ensure that all seats are filled. While waiting for commencement to begin, please be respectful and courteous to others attending the ceremony, mindful of any instructions made by Grambling employees working at commencement, and listen carefully to any pre-commencement announcements.

CONGRATULATIONS BANNERS/FLAGS/AIR HORNS

Everyone attending the commencement is asked to be respectful of others who want to hear the names of their graduates called, and to see their graduates walk in the procession and walk across the stage. To ensure that this formal event is as enjoyable for everyone as possible, NO CONGRATULATORY BANNERS, FLAGS OR AIRHORNS WILL BE ALLOWED INSIDE THE ASSEMBLY CENTER.

PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEO

Only university-authorized campus and external media will be allowed on the floor of the Assembly Center to shoot and film the event. Only media with university-recognized media credentials will be allowed on the center’s floor, and only authorized campus and external media representatives with university-issued media passes will be permitted on the floor. All others will be asked to clear the area.

LIVE BROADCAST 

To watch a live broadcast of commencement, visit www.gram.edu and click on the “Watch 2015 Fall Commencement Live” link on the right side of the webpage.

In addition, KGRM-FM will broadcast the entire commencement live. Tune in at 91.5 FM starting at 10 a.m. The station will broadcast until diplomas are awarded. Visit www.gram.edu/student-life/media/kgrm/, and click on the link at the bottom of the page to listen to KGRM live.

EXTERNAL MEDIA COVERAGE

External media are asked to contact the Office of University Communications and Media Relations at mediarelations@gram.edu or 318-274-2418 for further information regarding admittance to commencement and to make interview requests. All external media must show media credentials and wear a university-issued media pass during all commencement activities.