Congratulations, Class of 2017
On a memorable day at Colby, 47th vice president Joseph R. Biden Jr. implores graduates to value dignity and humanity as they shape the world. More
2017 Colby Commencement Schedule of Events
Payment required at venue
Ticket required
Ticket required
Friday, May 19, 2017
Commencement/Baccalaureate Rehearsal
Who: Graduating seniors
When: 1 p.m.
Where: Lorimer Chapel
Seniors should arrive behind East/West Quad for line up at 12:15pm
Lobster Bake
Who: Graduating seniors, family, and guests
When: Seatings at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Where: Colby Green
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Baccalaureate
Who: Graduating seniors and faculty; overflow available for family and guests on the lawn outside Lorimer Chapel
When: 10 a.m.
Where: Lorimer Chapel
Commencement Banquet
Who: Graduating seniors, family, and guests
When: Seatings at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Commencement Ball
Who: Graduating seniors, family, and guests
When: 9 p.m.
Where: Dana Lawn
Fireworks to follow
Fireworks
Who: Open to the public
When: Approximately 9:15 p.m.
Sunday, May 21, 2017
Commencement Luncheon
Who: Graduating seniors, family, and guests
When: 12:30 p.m.
Where: Colby Green
Payment required at venue
Ticket required
Campus Map
Letter to the Families of the Class of 2017
Dear Families of the Class of 2017,
I look forward to welcoming you to campus for Colby’s 196th Commencement exercises Sunday, May 21, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. on Miller Library lawn. A preliminary schedule of events for the weekend is now available here on the commencement website. Please continue to check this website throughout the spring for more details on departmental and program receptions, announcement of our 2017 honorary degree recipients, and any other commencement-related details.
While we hope for a clear, warm weekend and we will make every effort to hold the commencement ceremony outside for all to enjoy, it is possible we may encounter inclement weather. In the event that we must move the ceremony inside, it will be held in Wadsworth Gymnasium in the Harold Alfond Athletic Center, where seating is limited. Each graduate will receive three tickets for seating in the gymnasium for the live event. Additional, non-ticketed seating will be available in the adjacent field house, where the ceremony will be streamed live. Inclement weather tickets will be distributed to your senior via the student post office during senior week.
There are several opportunities throughout the weekend for families and graduates to gather for meals and celebration on campus. Meal menus and reservation details are available under the Parent Resources link on the commencement website. The deadline for meal reservations is May 10. Meal tickets will also be distributed to your senior during senior week.
To allow parents and families the opportunity to enjoy the ceremony in real-time and to keep the area around the podium clear, each graduate will be professionally photographed at the moment they receive their diploma. You will receive information directly from the photographer about purchasing those photos at your convenience.
Commencement weekend is a time of much-deserved celebration on campus, and we look forward to sharing in the festivities with you and your family. If you have questions or concerns regarding commencement or special accommodations/needs during the weekend, please contact my colleague Karen Farrar Ledger, director of campus events. You can reach her at krledger@colby.edu or 207-859-4736.
I look forward to welcoming you and your family to campus soon.
Sincerely,
C. Andrew McGadney
Vice President and Secretary of the College
Colby Commencement FAQ
Do I need a ticket to attend the commencement ceremony?
The ceremony is open to the public. Seats are reserved for family and guests of the graduating class and special guests of the College, but others are welcome to observe from outside the seating area. Lawn chairs are permitted. If inclement weather moves the ceremony into the Alfond Athletic Center, tickets are required for the gymnasium, but those without tickets may watch the proceedings on large video screens in the field house.
What is the schedule for closing Mayflower Hill Drive?
Mayflower Hill Drive will be closed Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as thousands of pedestrians cross between the Colby Green and the academic quadrangle. At the south end, the drive will be closed at the Mary Low parking lot. At the northeast end, Mayflower Hill Drive will be closed at the three-way intersection with Campus Drive and North Street (see campus map). Traffic delays may occur at other times during the weekend, especially from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, as pedestrians cross Mayflower Hill Drive. Accommodations will be made for emergency vehicles. Some on-campus traffic will be permitted when possible.
What other closings are planned?
At 9 p.m. Saturday, Campus Drive along Johnson Pond will close for about 15 minutes for a fireworks display. Runnals Drive will be closed to traffic all day Saturday and Sunday (see campus map).
Where is parking for the commencement ceremony?
Beginning at 7 a.m. Sunday, Colby security officers will direct parking. Drivers will be directed to Mary Low, Lunder, Roberts, Athletics, and PPD lots, and lots will be closed once they are full. Parking on Mayflower Hill Drive is restricted and spaces in Eustis Lot and on Bixler Drive (see campus map) are reserved for those with special permits. (To secure special parking permits call Director of Campus Events Karen Ledger in advance at 207-859-4735.)
Where are the restrooms?
Restrooms are available in the Lovejoy building and in Cotter Union.
When does commencement start, and how long does it last?
The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. and usually lasts until 12:30 p.m. Guests should plan to arrive on campus by 9 a.m.
What is the rain plan?
In inclement weather, the ceremony will be conducted in Wadsworth Gymnasium at the Alfond Athletic Center, and live-streamed to overflow seating in the adjoining field house. Each senior will be issued three rain tickets. The decision to move the ceremony will be made very early Sunday and posted at colby.edu.
When is baccalaureate, and may I attend?
Baccalaureate is at 10:00 a.m. Saturday. Seating in Lorimer Chapel is limited, but guests may view the procession and service on large video screens on the lawn in front of the chapel and in the Lovejoy Building.
How do I get meal tickets?
Graduating seniors are guests of the College for all meals during Commencement Weekend. Three special meals are offered: a lobster bake Friday evening, a banquet Saturday evening, and a luncheon Sunday following commencement. Guests may purchase tickets to the lobster bake and the banquet. There is no charge for the luncheon, but advance registration is requested. Reservations are recommended for all special meals on campus this weekend.
Families and guests may eat Saturday and Sunday breakfast and Saturday lunch at Dana dining hall. Meal prices are: breakfast $6; lunch $8. Children five and under are free; ages six to 11 are half-price.
Pre-purchased meal tickets and complimentary Sunday lunch tickets are issued along with commencement tickets to graduating seniors from the Campus Events office on the first floor of the Eustis Building during Senior Week. If your student is unable to pick up the tickets, reserved packets will be available at each of the meals during the weekend.
How are a cappella concert tickets distributed?
Seniors will be offered four tickets per student on a first-come, first-served basis when they pick up their meal/commencement tickets.
When and where is the Commencement Ball?
The ball, open to all seniors and their guests, will begin at 9 p.m. Saturday on Dana Lawn. A live band will perform until midnight.
What is there to do around Waterville?
Waterville is home to 15,000 residents and boasts a downtown district that features a municipal auditorium (the Waterville Opera House), Railroad Square Cinema, one of America’s great independent cinemas (three screens), and many locally owned businesses. Visitors will also find a half-dozen hotels, two hospitals, a multiplex movie theater, and nationally recognized businesses—Starbucks, Home Depot, and others—within city limits.
How can I get professional photos of a graduating student?
The College contracts with a studio to take photographs of seniors as they receive their diplomas. Families interested in ordering photos should contact Maineline Studio by Hockmeyer Studio at 207-692-0080.
Who can answer other questions about commencement?
Please contact Karen Ledger, Director of Campus Events, at 207-859-4735 or krledger@colby.edu.