FALL 2009 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

Post Secondary Adult Vocational (PSAV) and Certificate Programs

Date	Thursday, December 17, 2009
Time	6:00 p.m. There is no rehearsal prior to the ceremony. All graduates should report by 5:00 p.m. to the theatre lobby for preparation and final instructions.
Location	Palm Beach Community College Duncan Theatre 4200 Congress Avenue Lake Worth, FL Directions to Duncan Theatre: From I-95, proceed west on 6th Avenue South, approximately 2 miles, to the south entrance. Turn right (north) into the campus. The theatre and visitor parking are straight ahead. Please visit the PBCC Web site at http://www.pbcc.edu to view the PBCC Lake Worth location map if needed. Please note that traffic approaching Lake Worth on I-95 and on 6th Avenue South is very heavy beginning at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony. Please advise your guests to allow sufficient time to arrive, find parking, walk to the theatre, and be seated. Parking is limited; therefore, carpooling is encouraged.
Regalia/Dress	Graduates will be in full academic regalia (cap, gown, tassel). Men should wear a white dress shirt, dark tie, dark shoes and dark trousers under their gowns. Women should wear dark shoes, dress with neckline that does not show above the collar of the gown, and hair styled to allow proper fit of cap. No corsages, signs, decorations,etc. are to be worn on your cap and/or gown. Only one tassel is to be worn on the cap. All tassels should be worn on the right side.
In order to assist us in making this occasion pleasant for everyone, please read and follow the important instructions below:
Prior to December 17	If you plan to attend the commencement ceremony, return the RSVP form you receive to the Graduation Office in person (in FA 101, PBCC Lake Worth) or by mail (address on form) no later than December 9. Purchase your cap and gown at your campus bookstore November 30 through December 17. Do not wait until December 17 to buy your cap and gown! Pick up ceremony guest tickets at the Lake Worth campus bookstore only from November 30 through December 10. Up to 2 tickets have been reserved in your name. Photo ID is required. All guests, including all children, must have a ticket. Tickets will not be available at the door. Based on availability, an additional 2 tickets per graduate will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. These tickets will be available on Tuesday, December 15, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., in the Lake Worth campus bookstore only. If you or any of your guests need to request disability-related accommodations, please contact Susan Lang at (561) 868-3375 at least one week before commencement. Please note that seating will be provided for guests using wheelchairs.
December 17 – Before Start of Ceremony	Participation in Project Graduation! We invite all graduates to bring canned goods or children's books on the day of commencement for donation to community members in need. Arrive dressed in your cap and gown and report to the lobby area by 5:00 p.m.. Ask your guests to go directly into the Theatre for seating. Guests should be seated by 5:45 p.m., at which time, all doors are closed to allow passage of the procession. Late arrivals will be seated after the procession has entered. Pick up your name card from a Student Services representative at check-in (lobby area). This card will be an essential part of the certificate/diploma conferral process during the ceremony. Your personal belongings (purses, keys, etc.) must be secured with a friend or family member. No strollers or balloons are allowed in the theatre.
During the Ceremony	Please: Turn off cell phones and beepers for the ceremony. Women should keep their caps on throughout the ceremony. Men should remove their caps for the invocation, National Anthem and benediction. As a part of the certificate/diploma conferral process, you will be escorted to the stage for individual recognition. Please hand the name card you received to the announcer when you reach the top of the stairs. When you cross the stage, the president will shake your hand and hand your diploma cover to you. You may then leave the stage by the opposite stairs, have your picture taken, and return to your row and seat. All students and audience members are expected to remain in the theatre until the entire ceremony is over. Please plan for approximately 2 1/2 hours. A professional photographer from Bob Knight PhotoMarketing, Inc. will be on stage to take your picture as you greet the president and again as you exit the stage. As a courtesy to your classmates and their guests, please inform your guests to remain seated throughout the ceremony and refrain from moving about to take photographs. Guests will have ample time following the ceremony to take pictures of you.
After the Ceremony	At the conclusion of the ceremony, you will be dismissed from your seat in the theatre after the stage party and the faculty have exited. Bob Knight PhotoMarketing will e-mail details on the availability of your individual photographs.
The information on this Web page does not certify readiness for graduation; it simply informs you of ceremony details. Students are responsible for completing all certificate/diploma requirements. Your cooperation in making the commencement ceremony meaningful will be greatly appreciated. We wish you a successful future! Sign up Now and Take the Green Graduation Pledge! At the graduation ceremony, PBCC graduates who have signed the Pledge, will wear a green ribbon to show their commitment to social and environmental responsibility and awareness. For more information, go to www.pbcc.edu/greengradpledge.xml.