Graduation Information

Tickets

Tickets are required for all guests for the commencement ceremony and reception. Guest tickets will be distributed directly to the graduates at Graduate Sign-out on Friday, May 10, 2024. Graduates will distribute their tickets to their guests prior to attending the ceremony.

Navy Pier Information and Map

For information about Navy Pier, the venue for commencement, please visit the Navy Pier website.

The Aon Grand Ballroom is located at the East end of the pier, so please allow extra time to arrive at the pier. If you are being dropped off by a taxicab or a family member, use Entrance #2. If you are parking a car, use the East parking lot. View parking and drop-off map of Navy Pier.

Aon Grand Ballroom – Seating for Guests

The ballroom doors will open at 2:30 p.m. Open seating for guests is located on the main floor as well as the 2^nd Floor balcony. Ushers will be present to assist guests as needed.

Arriving at Navy Pier

Graduates should report in their regalia to the Navy Pier Aon Grand Ballroom 2^nd floor lobby at 2:45 p.m. The Aon Grand Ballroom is located at the East end of the pier, so please allow extra time to arrive at the pier. If you are being dropped off by a taxicab or a family member, use Entrance #2. If you are parking a car, use the East parking lot. View parking and drop-off map of Navy Pier.

Processional Line Up

Graduates will be lined up by college in alphabetical order by a staff member. It is important that you stay in your assigned order for the entire ceremony.

Processional and Graduate Seating

At approximately 3:20 p.m. the processional will be led from the staging area to the Aon Grand Ballroom. At 3:30 p.m., the processional line will enter the ballroom and the ceremony will begin. You will be directed to your seats by an usher. Boutte, Caprio, Fletcher and Hodkins Colleges will be seated on the South side (left side) of the graduate seating area. Kabre, Quinlan, Templer, and Whalen Colleges will be seated on the North side (right side) of the graduate seating area.

Awarding of Diplomas

When it is time for the awarding of the MD diplomas, an usher will direct you to stand and proceed to the South staircase to ascend the stage. You will proceed up the stairs and stop at the top of the staircase until Dr. Sanguino announces your name. When your name is called, you will step forward onto the stage to the “graduate” mark indicated on the stage floor in front of your mentor (or family member presenting your hood) and turn and face the audience. They will place the hood over your head and congratulate you. After being hooded, you will cross the stage to receive your diploma from Dean Neilson. You will exit the stage using the North staircase and proceed to the photo area for a professional photograph. An usher will direct you back to your seat.

Recessional

At the conclusion of the ceremony, you will be directed by an usher to exit the Grand Ballroom in the recessional line. Graduates will be directed to the Lakeview Terrace, where you will meet your guests for the reception.

Graduate Regalia and Guest Ticket Distribution

Graduates will pick up their regalia and guest tickets during Graduate Sign-Out on Friday, May 10, 2024, following the Graduate Luncheon.

Regalia Return

Your regalia must be returned to the designated regalia return area, located directly outside the reception immediately following the ceremony.

• Navy Pier navypier.org
• Area Hotel & Restaurant Directory themagnificentmile.com
• Chicago Weather weather.com