Class of 2024 Commencement
Class of 2025 Commencement
Heritage University will hold its 43rd Annual Commencement ceremony at the Yakima Valley SunDome in Yakima, Washington on Saturday, May 10, 2025 to celebrate the Class of 2025.
If you are planning on attending the commencement ceremony, you can order your cap and gown online at the button below.
Deadlines for ordering are:
For undergraduates, the deadline is March 16, 2025.
For Masters students, the deadline is March 2, 2025.
Questions? Please contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@heritage.edu.
Heritage University held its 42nd Annual Commencement ceremony at the Yakima Valley SunDome in Yakima, Washington on Saturday, May 11 to celebrate the Class of 2024. Over 180 graduates were awarded degrees and certificates during the ceremony in the presence of family, friends, and supporters.
The ceremony featured two speeches, one by Drew Rogers, B.A. in History, as the Baccalaureate Degree Speaker, and another by Areli Leon, M.I.T. in Elementary Education, as the Graduate Degree Speaker. Additionally, the university posthumously awarded an honorary doctoral degree to Professor Emeritus of Education Edwin “Ed” Rousculp, who passed away in January. Dr. Rousculp’s degree was accepted by his wife, Susan Rousculp, and their sons Josh, Tom, and Sam Rousculp.
At the ceremony, Heritage University also presented the Violet Lumley Rau Outstanding Alumni Award to alumna Jennifer Johann, who graduated with a B.A. in Elementary Education in 2004 and an M.Ed. in Professional Development in 2007.
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 2024!
APPLY TO BE A COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER!
The Class of 2025 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 will be 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.
Click on the button below to apply now!
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 2025 graduates on all of their achievements and welcome them to the Heritage alumni family. Enjoy refreshments while we celebrate!
Kennewick – CBC
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Columbia Basin College Courtyard
RSVP Below!
Toppenish Campus
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Smith Family Hall
RSVP Below!
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 March 21, 2025.
NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR VIOLET LUMLEY RAU ALUMNI AWARD
Do you know an alumna or alumnus who has consistently lived out the mission and values of Heritage University? This is your opportunity to recognize them.
Established in 1994 in loving memory of Heritage University co-founder Violet Lumley Rau, this award is bestowed annually to an alumnus who embodies the ideals of Heritage in their personal, professional and community life. Ideals include excellence, inclusion, perseverance, leadership, and service to others.
The deadline for nominations will be announced shortly. All nominations received after that date will be considered for the 2026 award. For questions, please contact alumni@heritage.edu.
Nominate a graduate now!
Violet Lumley Rau Alumni Award Nomination 2025
Established in 1994, in loving memory of Heritage University co-founder, Violet Lumley Rau, this award is bestowed annually to an alumnus who embodies the ideals of the University in their personal, professional and community life. Ideals include: Excellence, Inclusion, Perseverance, Leadership and Service. Both undergraduate and graduate degree holders are eligible for nomination. Nominations for 2025 are due by Friday, April 4, 2025. Mandatory fields are marked with * Have more to say? Please email alumni@heritage.edu
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.