Dear Kente Graduation Celebration Participant,
We are excited that you are participating in this celebration! This semester we have a full house with 300+ graduates and 1,500 guests in attendance. This email serves as your guide and your confirmation and reminder for the 31st Annual Spring Kente Graduation Celebration held on Thursday, May 11, 2023, from 6:30pm-8:00pm in Hollinger Fieldhouse (150 University Ave, West Chester, PA 19383). Please read this email in its entirety for important information such as arrival and check-in, parking, and more:
Graduate Arrival Information: All graduates need to arrive at Ehinger Gym (The Purple Gym), 150 University Ave, West Chester, PA 19383 no later than 5p.m. to check-in, receive hood prep assistance, enjoy the kick off party, and to line up for the celebration. We will begin the event promptly at 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 5:00 pm and close at 6:30pm for guests at Hollinger Fieldhouse.
Kente Kickoff: For the first time in Kente history, we will be having a Kente Kickoff starting at 5pm in the Hollinger Fieldhouse! During the Kickoff participants will enjoy food, music, congratulatory remarks, pictures with friends, professors, staff, and other WCU campus community members.
Caps, gowns, hoods, and stoles: Bring/wear your graduation gown and the purple and gold hood. You will not need your graduation cap. Be sure to view the video related to how to wear your gown:Commencement | How to Properly Wear Your Graduation Gown. Faculty and staff will be available at the celebration to assist with gowns. Instructions will be provided by faculty and staff regarding lining up, seating, receiving your stoles, processing, and recessing from the celebration
Stoles will be provided at the celebration. You will bring your stole from your chair to the stage to be placed on you. No gowns will be available at the event. Check the commencement website for instructions and deadlines: https://www.wcupa.edu/Commencement/student.aspx
*** There will be no food or beverages served during the Kente Graduation Celebration. ***
Seating:
Students: Graduating students have reserved seating which will be marked. Kente volunteers will be on-site to assist students in finding their seats. Accessibility accommodations can be made for graduate students who require them. Please reach out to us at multicultural@wcupa.edu to request an accommodation.
Guests: Guest seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. We strongly suggest that students limit their number of guests to a total of six (6). Live streaming will be available in case the Hollinger Fieldhouse reaches seating capacity. Due to safety concerns, guests will not be permitted to stand during the Kente Graduation Celebration.
Streaming: We are excited to share that the Kente Graduation Celebration will be live-streamed! The live stream link will be available on the day of the event at this website: https://www.wcupa.edu/Commencement/default.aspx. We encourage your family, friends, and supporters who are unable to attend to join virtually.
Tickets: THERE ARE NO TICKETS REQUIRED FOR THE SPRING 2023 KENTE GRADUATION CELEBRATION!
Attire: Traditionally, graduates dress up for the Kente Graduation Celebration, but we do also encourage you to come however you feel most comfortable or are able to, including as you are. No storage space will be provided. Please do not bring any extra items that will require storage.
Photography: Legacy Photographics will take photographs of each graduate as they shake hands with the dignitary and as they exit the stage. There is no obligation to purchase pictures and each graduate will receive an email proof within 48 hours of the ceremony. For more information visit www.legacyphoto.com.
Health & Safety: In keeping with current health and safety protocols, mask-wearing is optional. We encourage individuals to make their own decisions regarding mask usage. Our expectation is that everyone will be respectful of individuals' choices on the matter.
General Parking: During the Kente Graduation Celebration, parking is free in the Sharpless Street Parking Garage (15 Sharpless St., West Chester, PA 19383) and The Commons Parking Garage (124 North Campus Drive, West Chester, PA 19383). Students and their guests are strongly encouraged to park in The Commons Parking Garage first for easier access to Hollinger Field House.
Once you are parked or dropped off, please follow signs to ADA Seating. You will need to go around Hollinger Fieldhouse and use the ground level entrance. Golf carts will be there to assists guests who have ambulatory issues. You may also choose to park in either of those garages and we will have golf carts running between the garages and Hollinger Fieldhouse.
(To access the parking map please visit: https://www.wcupa.edu/campusMap/?parking=parking)
Accessibility: The Hollinger Fieldhouse provides accessible seating for graduates and guests. There will be a special seating area, as well as floor seating available. One (1) guest will be allowed to accompany one person to the special seating area. No exceptions will be made.
Hollinger Accessible Parking - Guests with a university or state issued handicap placard can park on Church Street via Sharpless Street (see map above). You make a left off of High Street onto Sharpless Street and then another left onto Church Street. There will be parking officers present to assist with this. If those spots are full, you can drop off at Church Street and University Avenue (as close to the building as possible) and then park in one of the garages
More Information: Please check out the DMC website for FAQ’s on Kente Graduation Celebration tinyurl.com/DMCprograms
Please contact the Dowdy Multicultural Center (610-436-3273) if you have any questions by Wednesday, May 10, 2023 (4pm). We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, May 11, 2023.
Again, Congratulations!