Commencement exercises begin May 23 and continue through Saturday as Elon prepares to graduate its 118th class. Activities for seniors begin even earlier in the week with a class picnic, an evening gala, receptions and dinners.
The keynote speaker for the Baccalaureate ceremony is The Right Rev. Michael B. Curry, bishop of the Episcopal
Diocese of North Carolina. For Commencement, the speaker is Douglas Finberg, senior vice president
of international marketing for Paramount Pictures and a 1994 Elon
alumnus.
Wednesday, May 21
Senior Class Picnic Lunch for graduates, faculty and staff
Green behind Moseley
12-2 p.m.
Senior Gala
McKinnon Hall
9 p.m. – midnight
Thursday, May 22
African American Graduates and Alumni Reception
Johnston Hall
6:30-8 p.m.
Dinner for MBA Graduates
Alamance Country Club
6 p.m.
Friday, May 23
ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
Holt Chapel, South Campus,
11 a.m.
Receptions for Graduates and their Families
Hosted by faculty in Elon College and the schools of Business, Communications and Education
1:30-2:30 p.m.
* Elon College, The College of Arts and Sciences: Scott Plaza/Fonville Fountain (rain location: Moseley Center, Hearth Lounge)
* Love School of Business: Chandler Fountain and Plaza (rain location: Koury Business Center, first floor)
* School of Communications: Manfuso Plaza (rain location: McEwen Communications Building, Studio B)
* School of Education: Pardue Court/Love Terrace (rain location: Center for the Arts, Isabella Cannon Room and Ward Gallery)
Baccalaureate
Alumni Gym, Koury Center,
3 p.m.
Graduates are invited to sit with their families for Baccalaureate. The Right Rev. Michael B. Curry, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina will deliver the Baccalaureate sermon.
A highly regarded preacher and public speaker, Curry is the 11th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese, a community of churches in central North Carolina. He has been featured on “The Protestant Hour,” a popular ecumenical radio program, and he is a frequent presenter at conferences around the country. He is known for his inspirational sermons and speeches.
Leaders for the Twenty-First Century: A Celebration of Accomplishments
McCrary Theatre, Center for the Arts
5 p.m.
Graduating Honors Fellows, North Carolina Teaching Fellows, Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows, Business Fellows, Science Fellows, Social Science Scholars, Arts and Humanities Scholars, and Journalism and Communications Fellows will be recognized at a pre-Commencement ceremony that showcases their talents and accomplishments. A reception will follow.
Legacy Reception for Graduates and their Alumni Parents
Johnston Hall Alumni Center
5:30-7 p.m.
If a parent, grandparent, or sibling of a graduate is an alumnus, an invitation will be mailed by the Office of Alumni Relations. Parking is available at Johnston Hall. (Questions? Call toll free 1-877-784-3566)
MBA Graduation
Whitley Auditorium
7 p.m.
The graduation keynote speaker will be Louis DeJoy, of Greensboro, N.C., and a member of the Elon University Board of Trustees.
DeJoy is chief executive officer of New Breed, Inc., a leading third-party logistics services provider with national headquarters in High Point, N.C. He joined the company in 1983 and has guided the company through a period of exponential growth. New Breed is consistently ranked as one of North Carolina’s largest privately held businesses, serving clients that include Boeing, Siemens Medical Solutions, the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Postal Service, United Technologies, Verizon Wireless and many others.
For more than 25 years, DeJoy has worked with both public accounting firms and private corporations in financial, program and corporate management. In 2004, he received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Carolina’s Award.
DeJoy was among the founding donors for the Elon University School of Law. He also serves on the board of trustees for Moses Cone Health System and on the board of trustees for The Fund for American Studies.
Saturday, May 24
Continental Breakfast
Scott Plaza
7:30 a.m.
Faculty host graduating students and their families at a continental breakfast around Fonville Fountain.
Graduates assemble in Jordan Gym
8:15 a.m.
Graduating students must be in Jordan Gym promptly at 8:15 a.m. in caps and gowns. Their presence is required. If students are late or improperly attired, they will not be permitted to participate in Commencement.
Commencement
Under the Oaks
9:30 a.m.
Douglas Finberg, senior vice president of international marketing for Paramount Pictures and a 1994 Elon alumnus, will deliver the commencement address.
Finberg was named senior vice president of Paramount in 2006. He acts as a liaison for filmmakers, studio executives and producers in Los Angeles, in addition to producing marketing campaigns for international theatrical releases. His credits include the upcoming DreamWorks Animation release, “Kung Fu Panda,” Marvel Studio’s “Iron Man,” “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” “Transformers,” “Bee Movie,” “Mission Impossible 3” and “Shrek the Third.”
Susan Reed Moseley, wife of Elon alumnus Furman C Moseley Jr. ’56, will receive an honorary degree from Elon during the ceremony.
Susan Moseley is a Seattle native and has been a dedicated volunteer,
serving over the years as a trustee of the School of Medicine at the
University of Washington, the Seattle Art Museum, the Henry Art Museum
and the Smithsonian Institution National Board.
The university’s new Susan Scholarships, named for Susan Moseley, make an Elon education possible for female students with potential
who have limited financial means.
After graduation, there will be a reception hosted by academic departments on Scott Plaza. Reception locations will be posted in the pocket guide that is sent in late April to graduates and their parents.
Rain location for Commencement is Alumni Gym in Koury Center.
Tickets are not required for Commencement Under the Oaks. You are welcome to bring as many people as you wish. However, families may not reserve their seats until 7 a.m. on Saturday. This gives our staff time to reserve seats for graduates and faculty members, as well as time to clean and dry off the chairs for your convenience.