Class of 2024 Commencement
Class of 2023 Commencement
Heritage University Commencement
(The following information is subject to change.)
Please join us as we celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates and honor those who helped them along the way.
Saturday, May 11, 2024
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Yakima Valley Sundome
1302 S Fair Ave, Yakima, WA
There were plenty of smiles, tears of joy, and hugs as family and friends witnessed the students walking across the stage and shaking hands with President Andrew Sund during the three-hour program. Phyllis Gutierrez Kinney served as the Commencement speaker. Other speakers included Andrea Ceja, B.A., Business Administration who served as Baccalaureate Degree Speaker, and Megan Wilkinson, M.I.T., Elementary Education, who served as Master’s Degree Speaker. Graduating student Kathleen Sanchez received the President’s Student Award of Distinction, and Ryan Washburn, ’12 Interdisciplinary Studies in Education received the 2023 Violet Lumley Rau Outstanding Alumni Award.
Click here to see pictures from commencement posted to HU social media. Click on the video thumbnail above to watch a video of commencement highlights.
Congratulations to Heritage University’s Class of 2023!
APPLY TO BE A COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER!
The Class of 2024 will have one undergraduate and one graduate student speaker presenting at the joint commencement exercise in May. Each speaker will have three minutes to address the audience.
Applications are being accepted digitally and need to include:
- Your name, major, graduation year, phone number and email address
- A written sample of your speech or speech outline. (Note, this does not need to be your final version. We will work with the individuals selected to finalize his/her remarks.)
- A one minute sample video of you delivering your remarks. Again, this does not need to be your final version, nor does it have to be anything fancy. A simple cell phone video will work.
To apply, send your materials by Friday, April 19 via the form below. All materials will be reviewed by the selection committee and the individuals selected will be notified by Friday, April 26.
Graduation Celebrations
Are you graduating this year? If so, you and up to two guests are invited to celebrate this exciting milestone! Please join us for Heritage University’s annual Graduation Celebrations as we congratulate the 2024 graduates on all of their achievements and welcome them to the Heritage alumni family. Enjoy refreshments while we celebrate!
Kennewick – CBC
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Columbia Basin College Courtyard
Toppenish Campus
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Smith Family Hall
GRADUATION TRADITIONS
Tassel and Hood
Tassel: Must be worn on the right front side before degrees are conferred and then transferred to the left front side after all diplomas have been awarded in the ceremony.
Hood: Graduate students do not wear their hoods before the ceremony, rather they carry their hoods over their left arm. Graduate students will be individually hooded during the commencement ceremony.
Baccalaureate Honors
Baccalaureate Honors are awarded to graduates receiving a first baccalaureate degree. The honors are based on the traditional Latin wording: “cum laude” (with honors), “magna cum laude” (with high honors), and “summa cum laude” (with highest honors). These honors are awarded to those who have completed no fewer than 60 credits at Heritage University and who have the following cumulative grade point average at the end of December 2019/December 2020 semesters:
Summa Cum Laude: 3.90 – 4.0
Magna Cum Laude: 3.60 – 3.89
Cum Laude: 3.30 – 3.59
The gold cord represents summa cum laude honors, the silver cord represents magna cum laude honors and the bronze cord represents cum laude honors. The Red, White & Blue cords represent Armed Forces Veterans.
Please be sure to bring this honor cord to the graduation ceremony.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are tickets required to attend Commencement?
No tickets are issued as Commencement is free of charge to all attendees.
Is there a charge for parking at the Sundome?
Sundome parking is free of charge for Commencement.
When is rehearsal?
TBD
Is rehearsal mandatory?
Rehearsal is not mandatory, but it is recommended to help make Commencement operate smoothly.
What time should graduates arrive at the Sundome?
It is recommended that graduates participating in Commencement arrive by 8:30 a.m. and check-in at the designated table.
Is graduation regalia (robe, tassel, etc) required to participate?
Yes, graduation regalia is mandatory for participation in the commencement ceremony. If you did not order and receive regalia, contact registrar@heritage.edu for assistance by September 15, 2021.
ALUMNI LEGACY WALK
The Alumni Legacy Walk is made up of individual bricks each engraved with the name of an alum along with his or her major and graduation year. Your brick will be placed in a collection of those bearing the names of other graduates from your class. Bricks will be installed on an ongoing basis (frequency of installation dependent on the volume of orders).
Your donation to the Heritage University Scholarship fund of just $45 will secure your spot on the Legacy Walk. You can also have a souvenir brick delivered to you for an additional $25 donation. Your gift is tax deductible, and all proceeds will be directed to the Heritage University Alumni Scholarship Fund.
Contact Us
Registrar
Phone: (509) 865-8505
registrar@heritage.edu
Registrar Staff Associate
(Transcripts and Registrations)
Phone: (509) 865-8506
Office Location & Hours
Student Services Bldg
Monday – Friday
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.