2025 Commencement
Saturday, May 10, 2025, 10:00 a.m.Commencement Program
2024
Seahawk Grad Walk
Thursday, May 9, 2024, 9:00 a.m.
Commencement Speaker
Schedule Of Events
Friday
April 11
4:30-5:30 p.m.
Nancy R. & Norton T. Dodge Performing Arts Center
AWARDS CONVOCATION
The annual presentation of academic awards to students from all class years. Students who will receive academic awards will be notified in advance and their participation in the event requested. Family and friends of these students are welcome to attend and no advance reservations are required. There is a reception with light refreshments following the awards presentation.
Friday
April 25
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Daugherty Palmer Commons
LAVENDER CELEBRATION
Hosted by LGBTQ Student Services, it is a special ceremony that honors the achievements of graduating gender and sexual minority students and distinguished allies. Recognized students will receive a rainbow tassel and a reception will follow the ceremony. Students and family members can RSVP to lgbtq@smcm.edu.
May 1
Campus Store
Pickup Caps & Gowns
If you are planning on participating in the graduation ceremony, please place your regalia order via buildagrad The cost for the complete outfit (cap, gown, hood, & black tassel) is $56.95 and payment is due when orders are picked up at the Campus Store starting May 1. The deadline for preordering regalia is Sunday, March 30. After March 30, preorders are no longer available and the price increases to $66.95.
For those prospective graduates who do not place a preorder, regalia will be available for purchase in-store and online on the SMCM Bookstore website starting April 7. If you just need specific components of the outfit (e.g. hood or cap only), we will have those available to purchase in-store and online starting Monday, April 7. If you were selected for Phi Beta Kappa and are participating in the ceremony, your regalia has already been ordered. If you live off campus and need your regalia shipped to your home address, please send an email to rtwagner@smcm.edu.
Wednesday
May 7
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Alumni Center at Cobb House
Almost Alumni Cookout
Hosted by the Office of Alumni Relations, the Almost Alumni Cookout is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7 at the Alumni Center at Cobb House. All graduating seniors are invited to stop by to get their senior gift, grab some food right off the grill, and enjoy some music and lawn games. Compliments of the Alumni Association to celebrate and welcome our graduating class into the SMCM alumni community.Wednesday
May 7
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Waterfront
BEACH DAY
Relax with your friends at the waterfront (weather permitting).Thursday
May 8
6:00 - 10:00 p.m.
State House
Senior Gala
Cost: $50 (includes 4 tickets for alcoholic beverages) or $40 (includes unlimited non-alcoholic beverages) per person. Tickets must be purchased by May 1. Bring your fancy attire and enjoy beverages and hors d’oeuvres at the Historic St. Mary’s City State House (weather permitting), and dancing and making memories with your friends. Register for the Senior Gala.
Friday
May 9
11:00 a.m.
Michael P. O’Brien Athletics and Recreation Center
Commencement Rehearsal
Meet at the recreation courts in the Arena at the Michael P. O’Brien Athletics and Recreation Center. The rehearsal takes about an hour and will provide useful information and serve as a practice for the next day. If you absolutely cannot attend the rehearsal, contact the Office of the Registrar, 240-895-4336 to report your absence.
Friday
May 9
2:30 p.m.
Dallas P. Dean Learning Commons
Master's Research Project (MRP) Presentations
Reception to follow from 5:00 - 5:45 p.m.
Friday
May 9
6:00 p.m.
St. Mary's Hall
MAT HOODING
The MAT Hooding ceremony is an opportunity for the graduating cohort to celebrate the work they have done during their graduate year. The event consists of a small reception and a ceremony where they receive their master’s hoods and receive congratulations and charges from their faculty. We invite a speaker every year who has a connection to the MAT and/or EDST programs, including alumni who are still in the teaching profession in some capacity.
Saturday
May 10
9:15 a.m.
Michael P. O’Brien Athletics and Recreation Center
Class of 2025 Group Photo
Graduates must be in cap and gown to be in the pictures. Late arrivals will not be included. An 8x10” copy of this photo will be mailed by the photography vendor to each graduate as a gift from the College.
Saturday
May 10
10:00 a.m.
Townhouse Green
Commencement
No tickets are necessary for the Commencement ceremony. Seating is first-come, first-served.
Although the area will be tented, some seating is in an open area in full sun. Guests should be prepared with hats, sunscreen, and other protective measures. Please bring rain gear if the weather is threatening. The event is held outside, rain or shine. No seats may be held for guests without someone being physically present to hold them.Saturday
May 11
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Apartments and Townhouses
LIVING ON-CAMPUS
Seniors living on campus must check out of residence halls and suites by 3:00 p.m. and out of apartments and townhouses by 5:00 p.m. on May 10, 2024.For Graduates
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Graduation announcements can be ordered via Balfour. Packages start at $13.95 for five personalized announcements.
ALCOHOL-FREE
Commencement is a time to celebrate your accomplishments here at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and it should be a celebration treated with the respect it deserves. Commencement is an alcohol-free ceremony. Staff will monitor the attendees for alcohol possession.
ACADEMICS
St. Mary’s College has a strict requirement for participation in the graduation ceremony. In order to walk in the ceremony, you must be within four (4) credits of the graduation requirement, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0, and an action plan for completion of the remaining credits must be filed in the Office of the Registrar. A notation will be placed in the Commencement program indicating that there are credits left to be fulfilled. If you are in any danger of not meeting this requirement, call the Office of the Registrar at 240-895-4336.
DOUBLE MAJOR
If you have a double major, you must choose the major with which you wish to walk. If you have a double major in both a BA and BS degrees and you have chosen to receive a BS, then you will be required to walk with the major associated with your BS degree. Go to the Office of the Registrar’s by April 1, 2025 to register your preference and to check the spelling and pronunciation of your name.
FINANCIAL REMINDERS
Check with the Business Office to be sure your financial obligations to the College are covered. Your diploma will not be mailed to you nor will a transcript be issued until your account is cleared. Students receiving financial aid should call that office, 240-895-3000, before Commencement.
Photographs
Personal photography by family members and friends is allowed from behind the ropes. Family members are urged to cooperate with Commencement officials by limiting their photography to ensure that all who wish to take photos have the opportunity.
SUMMER 2024 & FALL 2024 GRADS
If you are planning on walking during Commencement, please send an email to: graduation@smcm.edu and include your student ID, full name, and major.
SENIOR EXIT AND FIRST DESTINATION SURVEY
SENIOR EXIT SURVEY
Here's your chance to share your thoughts on your SMCM experience! The Senior Exit Survey asks for your feedback on your academic experiences, your personal and intellectual growth, and your future plans. Your responses will help us to make improvements for future Seahawks. The survey is open now and will remain open throughout graduation! Click here to take the survey (enter your SMCM email address to begin). Contact Mai Savelle, Associate Director of Institutional Effectiveness at mlsavelle@smcm.edu with any questions.
FIRST DESTINATION SURVEY
Everyone’s been asking – what are you doing after graduation? SMCM wants to know, too! We’re collecting information on where graduates go after graduation. Please let us know your plans by filling out the First Destination Survey. This will help us to improve our existing programs and to attract new students! The survey is opening soon and is scheduled to run through the end of December 2025. To take the survey once it opens, log in to your Handshake account (smcm.joinhandshake.com) → click "career center" → then "First Destination". The SMCM Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD) will also send you reminder emails via Handshake. Questions, or can’t find the link? Contact the Center for Career & Professional Development at careercenter@smcm.edu
For Families & Guests
CEREMONY TICKETS & SEATING
Saturday, May 10, 10:00 a.m. on the Townhouse Green. No tickets are necessary for the Commencement ceremony. Seating is first-come, first-served. Although the area will be tented, some seating is in an open area in full sun. Guests should be prepared with hats, sunscreen, and other protective measures. Please bring rain gear if the weather is threatening. The event is held outside, rain or shine. No seats may be held for guests without someone being physically present to hold them.
COMMENCEMENT TRAFFIC & PARKING
College Drive will be closed until Commencement is over, then traffic will be one way until 4:00 p.m. (going from Mattapany toward Route 5). Families and guests may park in any available lot. View the Campus Map for more information
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
Dinner In Town: Friday, May 9, 5:00 p.m. Spend time with your graduate by experiencing some of the many restaurants in Southern Maryland. We encourage you to make reservations in advance.
Suggested local Restaurants Include:
- Ruddy Duck Brewery & Grill - 13200 Dowell Rd, Dowell
- The Island Hideaway -14556 Solomons Island Rd S, Solomons
- The Pier Restaurant - 14575 Solomons Island Rd S, Solomons
- The Lighthouse Restaurant and Dockbar -14636 Solomons Island Rd S, Solomons
- The Front Porch - 22770 Washington St, Leonardtown, MD 20650
- SweetBay Restaurant & Bar - 22680 Washington Street, Leonardtown
- Hacienda Los Guayabos Mexican Grill - 19661 Three Notch Rd, Lexington Park
- Asahi Japanese Steak & Seafood - 22576 MacArthur Blvd. #302, California
- Pier450 - Restaurant - 48342 Wynne Rd, Ridge
LOCAL HOTELS
Families are encouraged to make hotel arrangements as early as possible. The following hotels have set aside rooms to accommodate SMCM families.
- Hampton Inn Lexington Park - (∼ 8 miles) 22211 Three Notch Rd., Lexington Park, MD 20653; 301-863-3200.
- Fairfield Inn by Marriott - (∼ 8 miles) 22119 Three Notch Rd., Lexington Park, MD 20653; 301-863-0203.
- Home2Suites by Hilton - (∼ 8 miles) 46058 Valley Dr., Lexington Park, MD 20653; 301-866-1416.
- Country Inn & Suites - (∼ 11 miles) 44941 Worth Ln, California, MD 20619; 301-737-5227.
SPECIAL NEEDS
Reserved seating for guests with disabilities is available. Seating must be reserved in advance and due to high demand seating is only available for the disabled individual and one additional person. Sign language interpreters will be provided for the deaf/and hard-of-hearing. Contact the Events & Conferences Office at events@smcm.edu for reserved seating and questions about access to this event.
LEAVE A LEGACY
Need a unique gift idea for a graduating senior? Honor their legacy on campus with an engraved plaque on an auditorium seat or stadium locker.
For more information or to inscribe multiple plaques, contact Miranda Pontarelli, annual giving officer, at (240) 895-2122 or mjpontarelli@smcm.edu.