Shenandoah University To Celebrate 1,302 Graduates at May 12 Commencement

Shenandoah University will celebrate its 2018 Commencement at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 12, in the new James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center.

Saturday’s ceremony celebrates 223 August 2017 graduates, 322 December 2017 graduates, and 757 candidates for May degree conferrals.

University Commencement is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 12, 2018, in the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center at 1188 Ralph Shockey Drive in Winchester. The ceremony will stream live, as well.

Below is a full schedule of all 2018 graduation-related events.

• May 10 @ 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. | Senior Bash, James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center
• May 11 @ 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy Hooding Ceremony, James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center
• May 11 @ 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business Awards and Hooding Ceremony, Halpin-Harrison Hall, Stimpson Auditorium
• May 11 @ 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Eleanor Wade Custer School of Nursing Pinning & Hooding Ceremony, Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre
• May 11 @ 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Baccalaureate Service, Armstrong Concert Hall
• May 11 @ 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. | College of Arts & Sciences Honors Ceremony, Goodson Chapel-Recital Hall
• May 11 @ 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. | Shenandoah Conservatory Honors Recital Awards & Graduate Hooding Ceremony, Goodson Chapel-Recital Hall
• May 11 @ 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. | School of Education & Leadership Hooding Ceremony, Halpin-Harrison Hall, Stimpson Auditorium
• May 12 @ 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. | Graduate Check-in & Line Up, Sprint Field, Shentel Stadium
• May 12 @ 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Doors Open for Guests – Class of 2018 Commencement Ceremony, James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center
• May 12 @ 10 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Commencement Ceremony followed by President’s Reception, James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center

The 2018 commencement ceremony will be strictly ticketed.

For a full schedule of events, go to su.edu/commencement/

View the parking map for the Commencement Ceremony.

Shuttles to the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center will be running constantly through campus. 

All guests and graduates should plan to enter campus at University Drive at Millwood Avenue. Please carefully review the parking options below. Note that general (non-handicapped) guest parking will be available only on main campus. From there guests may walk to the ceremony site at the Wilkins Athletics and Events Center (~20 minutes) or take a shuttle. Drivers are encouraged to take advantage of the drop-off option below for passengers. With 5,000 people attending commencement, traffic and parking will be slower than usual. Plan on arriving early to allow time for parking and walking or riding the shuttle.Doors open at the Wilkins Athletics and Events Center at 8:00am and the first shuttle will begin from the parking area at 7:45am. The ceremony will begin promptly at 10:00am. Note that thru traffic will be prohibited on Tulane Drive and Ralph Shockey Drive.

• General Guest Parking: Enter via Millwood Avenue.
  All general (non-handicapped) guest parking will be on the main campus at 1460 University Drive, Winchester, VA 22601. From there guests may walk (~20 minutes) or take a shuttle to the ceremony site. Drivers are encouraged to drop off passengers at East Campus Commons (below) before proceeding to general parking.
• General Guest Passenger Drop-Off: Enter at East Campus Commons on Millwood Pike.
  Drivers are encouraged to drop off passengers at East Campus Commons, a short walk to the ceremony site. Drivers will then be directed to the designated parking areas on main campus from where they can walk (~20 minutes) or take a shuttle to the ceremony site.
• Handicapped Parking: Enter at East Campus Commons on Millwood Pike.
  Handicapped parking will be available at the Athletics and Events Center for vehicles with ADA Guest Tickets or DMV-issued handicapped license plates or plate cards.Local law enforcement and the Department of Public Safety will assist in directing traffic. Please note that parking in prohibited areas will result in the vehicle being towed at the owner’s expense. This includes parking in residential areas, which is strictly prohibited.

This is the First Commencement Ceremony To be Held in James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center.

The James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center is now the largest space in 70 miles! Our dream for this facility is to serve the unmet needs of our community. We’ve started to fulfill that dream by hosting all of the major Apple Blossom events and a scholarship gala that raised over one million dollars for student scholarships—and that’s just the start. We envision this space hosting major lectures, concerts, indoor graduations for local high schools or community colleges, festivals, and more. 

This May the Wilkins Athletics & Events Center will host Shenandoah’s first indoor commencement ceremony!