Ceremony

Celebrate the 2024-2025 graduates and the completion of their academic journey. The ceremony will be live streamed.

Date, Time, Location

Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. in the Athletic Center.

Commencement Speaker

Ray Mastre, Penn State New Kensington Alumnus

Graduation Meeting

Monday, January 27 at 12:20 p.m. in 138 Science

Commencement Rehearsal

Tuesday, April 29 at 12:15 p.m. in the Athletic Center

Candidate for Graduation Checklist

  • Declare Your Intent to Graduate—Spring 2025: 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. The dates to apply to graduate for Spring 2025 are Thursday, January 2 to Monday, January 27, 2025. 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.
  • Order Your Cap and Gown: In observance of tradition, all participants in the ceremony must 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. Please order your cap and gown no later than March 31. Contact the Bookstore at 724-334-6170.
  • Complete the Post-Graduation Survey: Students must complete the online Post-Graduation Survey as part of the graduation process.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Graduation Day Lineup

Graduates should arrive to 51 Conference at 9:00 a.m. on the day of the ceremony.

Academic Dress

  • 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.
  • Please arrive at the ceremony wearing your regalia. Regalia will not be available at the ceremony.
  • Please check your regalia for accuracy before the day of the ceremony.
  • Remember to steam your gown before commencement to remove wrinkles from packaging.
  • Business or business casual attire is recommended.

Academic Cords/Stoles

Cords representing Lambda Pi Eta, Phi Zeta Gamma, Psi Chi, and Tau Alpha Pi honor societies are approved attire for Penn State New Kensington academic ceremonies. Student athletes who have received PSUAC academic honors will be provided stoles. Students graduating with academic distinction and approved veterans will be provided University approved cords. Additional ornamentation is not permitted.

Distinctions

Required GPA for Graduation with Distinction

Diplomas

After all degree requirements are met and reviewed by the academic college and the registrar's office, diplomas will be mailed to the permanent address set in LionPATH approximately six weeks after commencement.

Guest Information

All guests are welcome to attend at no cost. Students must RSVP to Nancy Lucas at [email protected]. Handicapped parking is available.

Photos

Pictures of graduates will be taken prior and during the ceremony. You are welcome to take additional pictures after the ceremony.

Rings 

Class rings and jewelry can be ordered through Jostens website.

Alternate Commencement Site

The option of attending a commencement ceremony at another Penn State campus is available to students who complete the Alternate Commencement Site form. Complete the form and turn it in to the Penn State New Kensington Registrar's office.

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 visit the Penn State Alumni Association.

Please contact Academic Affairs if you have any questions at 724-334-6030 or [email protected].