Services, Ceremonies and General Information on Commencement Weekend
Graduation Rehearsal
The Class of 2026 will hold graduation rehearsal on Friday, May 8 beginning at 9:00a.m. at the Clayton Center for the Arts. All graduates who are marching are asked to attend the graduation rehearsal. Important information for marching will be reviewed, and Inclement weather* tickets will be distributed during rehearsal (3 tickets per student). A photo ID will be required to pick up tickets and they must be signed for.
Senior Brunch
Immediately following Graduation Rehearsal on Friday May 8 at 10:30 a.m., all graduating seniors are invited to Senior Brunch. This event serves as a celebratory time to fellowship and enjoy a final meal with your class before the Commencement Ceremony. We encourage you all to attend and share in this event with your fellow seniors. An email with location and details will be sent in the coming weeks. If you have questions, please contact Maddie Taylor via email.
Baccalaureate
The Baccalaureate service for the Class of 2026 will be held on Friday, May 8 at 3:00 p.m. in the Ronald and Lynda Nutt Theatre of the Clayton Center for the Arts. Seniors, please plan to gather in the Harold and Jean Lambert Recital Hall beginning at 2:30pm. Parents and families are invited to attend. If you have questions, please contact Maddie Taylor via email.
Commencement
Graduation exercises for the majority of the Class of 2026 were held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, on the lawn between Anderson Hall and Fayerweather Hall. The Commencement speaker will be Jennifer Morris, the chief executive officer of The Nature Conservancy. Morris will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the College. An overflow viewing location in the Cooper Athletic Center will be open even if the ceremony is held outside for those who wish to get out of the sun and heat.
Additional Details for Students and Families
Graduation Items
Regalia ordering is open now through February 12, and ALL caps and gowns MUST be ordered through the online portal by this deadline. During this ordering window, you can purchase everything you need for graduation—including your cap, gown, and tassel—as well as additional graduation items such as invitations, class rings, and affiliation accessories.
To place your order, visit The Scots Portal, where you’ll select your items and complete payment directly through the system.
A few important dates to keep in mind:
- Caps and gowns will be delivered to the Campus Bookstore and will be available for pickup on March 11.
- Grad Finale, our in-person graduation event, will be held in the Bookstore on March 11 and 12. This event is ONLY for students who did not order rings or invitations through the portal and would like to:
- Try on and purchase class rings
- View invitation samples and place invitation orders
Caps and gowns will not be available to order at Grad Finale.
If you have questions, please contact Maddie Taylor via email.
Photography at Commencement
Professional Photos: PhotoPlay Studios will be taking photos of the graduating seniors at Commencement. Photos available for purchase include shots of individual graduates receiving their diplomas from the president and a photo of the entire Class of 2026. Pre-ordering is not necessary. Proofs of the photos can be viewed online at www.photoplaystudios.com, and will be available for viewing by the afternoon of May 20th. PhotoPlay Studios offers several packages ranging in price up to to $29.95. Questions about photography should be directed to the photographers by calling 865-546-0977.
Class Photo: Graduates are to assemble at 8:30 a.m. on May 9 in the Cooper Athletic Center for the Class of 2026 photo.
StageClip Videos: The College’s Advancement Office is partnering again with StageClip to provide personalized video clips for graduates to share on social media. Seniors should watch their my.maryvillecollege.edu accounts for an email that will provide details and instructions.
Parking & Security
Parking: Your state-issued disability placard is required for special parking considerations.
Security: There will be heightened security for this event. In the case of any emergency, please alert security immediately at (865) 981-8112.
Inclement Weather
In case of inclement weather, Commencement will be moved to the Ronald and Lynda Nutt Theatre inside the Clayton Center for the Arts. Seating will be by ticket only, 3 tickets per student (distributed during Graduation Rehearsal). All other guests may view the ceremony in the Cooper Athletic Center where it will be broadcast live in high definition on a large screen. The decision to move inside will be announced on the Maryville College website before 6:00 a.m. on May 9. Seniors will be able to pick up tickets during graduation rehearsal on Friday, May 8 (a photo ID will be required to pick up tickets and they must be signed for).
Live Stream of Commencement & Baccalaureate
The Commencement ceremonies will be live-streamed and viewable through the College’s official social media channels and website, where a link will be easily accessible from the homepage.
The broadcast will be archived on the MC website and YouTube within hours of the ceremony’s conclusion.
Questions regarding the live stream should be directed to Karen Eldridge via email or at 865-981-8207.