Fall 2021 Commencement
Saturday, December 18, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.
Forum Theatre
Information for Candidates for Graduation
Commencement ceremonies, which are held every fall and spring, are public recognition of our students' accomplishments. Since the inaugural class of 1960, more than 5,200 alumni have attended Penn State New Kensington and earned a Penn State degree.
Declare Your Intent to Graduate
It is your responsibility to notify the University of your intent to graduate. You must declare your intent to graduate by using the "Graduating This Semester" application on LionPATH. Applying to graduate for Fall 2021 expires on Tuesday, September 7, 2021. If you miss the activation deadline for your intended semester of graduation, you must contact the Registrar's Office.
Meet With Your Advisor
Use LionPATH to request a current degree audit and review it with your academic advisor. You should meet with your adviser each semester. This will ensure that you are on track to meet all degree requirements. If you are missing courses, credits, or grade requirements, you will not be able to graduate. You cannot graduate with missing or deferred grades.
Commencement Rehearsal
Friday, December 3, at 12:20pm in the Forum Theatre. Rehearsal is not mandatory, but your attendance is encouraged.
Academic Attire
In observance of tradition, all participants in the Commencement Ceremony will wear full academic regalia, consisting of a traditional gown and mortarboard (cap) with tassel. Caps and gowns must be ordered from the Penn State New Kensington Bookstore. Contact the Bookstore at 724-334-6170.
Properly Wearing Academic Regalia
Candidates for the baccalaureate and associate degrees should wear the tassel of the cap on the right front edge until you are signaled at the ceremony to shift it to the left when the degrees are conferred. Business or business casual attire is recommended.
Rings and Announcement Cards
Print ready Penn State graduation announcements, invitations and thank-you cards are available online at: www.overlypub.com/. Class rings and jewelry can be ordered through Jostens website at: http://college.jostens.com/.
Diplomas
Each semester, before students can schedule, they are asked to verify their contact information as a part of their To Do list in the student center portion of LionPath. It is very important to verify that all information is correct since the student will be receiving important graduation information as well as official University correspondence, including their diploma, will go to the address we have on file. Diplomas are mailed to the student's address approximately 4-6 weeks after the ceremony.
Distinctions
Required GPA for Graduation with Distinction
Honors Ornamentation
Graduating students may wear only provided ornamentation to commencement. Ornamentation representing honorary societies or nationalities is not approved attire for Penn State academic ceremonies. Students graduating with distinction, high distinction, highest distinction and approved veterans will be provided University approved cords.
Commencement Speaker
Brian Jacob is the president and owner of WESTARM Home Health and WESTARM Therapy Services; both located in Lower Burrell. He has owned and operated his healthcare companies since 1991. Brian manages the successful growth and operation of the companies, which provide physical and occupational therapy within eight outpatient centers in addition to athletic trainer services to student athletes and pediatric rehab programs to special needs students in local school districts.
Brian earned his B.S. in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and his M.S. in Healthcare Administration also from the University of Pittsburgh. He is the author of Is Life Fair: Tragedy to Triumph.
Guest Information
All guests are welcome to attend. Masks are mandatory.
Photos
Pictures of graduates will be taken prior to the ceremony.
Penn State New Kensington Alumni Society
A student's connection with Penn State does not end at graduation. Join over 150,000 Penn State supporters by becoming a member of the largest alumni association in the country, and keep that Blue and White spirit alive!
The local alumni organization based on our campus is the Penn State New Kensington Alumni Society. The society represents more than 7,000 Penn Staters living the Alle-Kiski valley.
For more information on the Penn State Alumni Association, visit: http://www.alumni.psu.edu/.
Please contact Academic Affairs if you have any questions at 724-334-6030 or [email protected].