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2024 Undergraduate Commencement Weekend

The 2024 Whitworth University Commencement Weekend (May 18-19) will be held on Whitworth's campus.

Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony

Sunday, May 19, 10 a.m.
Whitworth Pine Bowl
300 W. Hawthorne Road
Spokane, WA 99251

Tickets

Whitworth's undergraduate commencement ceremony is a ticketed event. Each participating graduate will receive six guest tickets for the ceremony. Only ticketed guests will be allowed to attend the commencement ceremony. Tickets are mobile and will be distributed digitally to graduates via their Whitworth email the week before commencement. Each ticket can only be used once and will automatically become void after being scanned. No re-entry to the ceremony is allowed. Children under three years old will not need a ticket as long as they remain on an adult’s lap for the duration of the ceremony.

Two additional ticket lotteries took place in December 2023 and March 2024, giving students the chance to receive a total of 10 guest tickets. All additional tickets were distributed during these lotteries. There are no additional tickets available at this time.

Guest Check-In & Seating

The gates to the bleacher and field seating will open at 9 a.m. Guests should not congregate before the gates open as this may block vital entryways for setup or the Loop Road. 

Guests will be seated on the field of the Pine Bowl, as well as in the stadium stands. There will be ample accessible seating for any guests with disabilities on the field; no special tickets or reservations will be needed. We ask that guests who can safely navigate stairs enter through the east gates and choose bleacher seating, allowing guests in need of seating without stairs to use the north gate and field seating.

Parking

Parking on campus is limited and will be restricted on Sunday, May 19. Each participating graduate will receive two commencement parking passes that will allow for parking on campus on Sunday. Accessible parking will be available for guests with disabilities along Graves Gym and the WALT. Please see the Commencement Weekend Parking Map for additional parking information. 

Parking passes will be distributed to day students in the spring. 

Weather Preparation

The commencement ceremony is held outside, rain or shine. We strongly encourage all guests and participants to check the weather forecast and come appropriately attired (weather-friendly clothing, hats, sunscreen, water, etc.). Water is allowed into the ceremony, and all are encouraged to bring water with them.

Ceremony Photography

Prior Moments Photography is the official Whitworth commencement ceremony photographer. They will take photos as graduates walk across the stage, as well as during the ceremony in general. Photos will be available for purchase in June 2024 on their website.

Ceremony Livestream

The ceremony will be livestreamed for those unable to attend on the Whitworth University YouTube channel.

Weekend Schedule

Official events will take place Saturday, May 18-Sunday, May 19. The schedule of official Commencement Weekend events can be found here.

Prohibited Items/Security Procedures

To ensure a safe and pleasant ceremony for you and your guests, the following will not be permitted at the commencement ceremony:

  • Weapons of any kind are prohibited on Whitworth's campus. Please see Whitworth's University Policies for additional information.
  • Umbrellas or balloons, as they will obstruct the sightlines for other guests.
  • Large bags or backpacks; small handbags only. All bags are subject to search. 
  • Noisemakers, as they are disruptive and may add significant time to the ceremony.
  • Tripods or large photography/videography equipment. These can obstruct aisles and sightlines. A professional photographer will be capturing photos of the graduates as they cross the stage, and a video of the ceremony will be available for purchase.
  • All food and drink, with the exception of water. Guests are encouraged to bring water with them, especially, if the weather is warm.
  • Pets or emotional support animals. Per the campus animal policy, only service animals will be permitted at the ceremony.

Accommodations

As May is a busy month for the city of Spokane, we highly recommend that guests who will be traveling to commencement book accommodations soon. A list of nearby hotels is available here.

Public Health Protocols

Whitworth will follow all public health guidelines in place at the time of commencement weekend.

 

If you have additional questions, please check out the Commencement FAQs page.