New West Virginia University graduates will celebrate at nine ceremonies during Commencement Weekend in Morgantown May 16-18. (WVU Photo/Matt Sunday)
WHAT: West Virginia University will mark Commencement Weekend with gold and blue celebrations during nine ceremonies over three days in Morgantown.
WHO: Thousands of spring graduates; President Gordon Gee; Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Paul Kreider, Chancellor and Executive Dean for Health Sciences Dr. Clay Marsh, other University leaders, six honorary degree recipients.
Meet members of the Class of 2025.
WHERE: WVU Coliseum, 3450 Monongahela Blvd., Morgantown
WHEN: May 16-18
Friday, May 16
9 a.m.
College of Law
Noon
School of Dentistry, School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy, School of Public Health
4 p.m.
School of Medicine — MD, PhD, School of Medicine Health Professions, All Degrees
Saturday, May 17
9 a.m.
College of Creative Arts and Media
12:30 p.m.
Davis College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
4 p.m.
John Chambers College of Business and Economics
Sunday, May 18
9 a.m.
College of Applied Human Sciences
12:30 p.m.
Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
4:30 p.m.
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTS: Six honorary degrees, including one Presidential Honorary Degree, will be presented during the ceremonies.
Bruce Roberts, a School of Pharmacy graduate, longtime pharmacy and home health care company owner, and pharmacy industry leader, will receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree during the noon Friday ceremony for the School of Dentistry, School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy and School of Public Health.
Mark Duda, a University alumnus, Certified Wildlife Biologist and social scientist who has devoted his life to wildlife conservation, will receive an honorary Doctor of Letters degree during the 12:30 p.m. Saturday ceremony for the Davis College.
Harry “Hap” Esbenshade, chair and CEO of The Mountain Company, Laurel Management Group, and Tri-State/Service specialty contracting companies covering the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States, will receive an honorary Doctor of Business degree during the 4 p.m. Saturday ceremony for the Chambers College.
Also at the Chambers College ceremony, two-time University alumnus W. Marston “Marty” Becker, current chair of Axis Capital and MVB Financial and director of Encova Mutual Insurance Company, will be presented with a Presidential Honorary Degree. Becker is a former member of the WVU Board of Governors and the WVU Foundation Board of Directors.
Jon Hammock, a University alumnus and founder of KeyLogic, an integrated consulting firm that specializes in critical energy and defense initiatives, will be presented with an honorary Doctor of Engineering Degree during the 12:30 p.m. Sunday ceremony for the Statler College.
Alumnus Don Brodie, co-founder of the Purolite Company, a major innovator in biotech and industrial water treatment, will receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the Eberly College at a later date.
VENUE INFORMATION: Tickets are not required. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. The University’s Clear Bag Policy will be in effect. No signs or noisemakers are permitted.
Find more information about WVU Commencement.
For those not attending in person, each ceremony will be livestreamed with broadcasts beginning a few minutes prior to scheduled event starts. After the ceremonies, archived recordings will be available.
Find links to watch the ceremonies.
PARKING: For attendees, free ceremony parking is available at the Coliseum. Members of the University Police Department will be directing traffic.
The Coliseum is ADA compliant with ADA parking in the front of the building. A valid handicap placard will be required for handicap parking. Shuttles and golf carts will be running in the parking areas.
The PRT closes for summer break Saturday, May 10, and will not be an option for transportation to and from Commencement Weekend ceremonies.
ADDITIONAL EVENTS: The Army ROTC Mountaineer Battalion will hold the annual Spring Commissioning Ceremony at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, in the Mountainlair, Mountaineer Room.
The Honors College will host its Honors Recognition Ceremony from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, May 15, at the Canady Creative Arts Center, Lyell B. Clay Theatre.
MEDIA NOTES: Members of the media — reporters, photographers, videographers — who are planning to cover one or more of the ceremonies in person are required to RSVP by sending an email to Shauna Johnson, sjohns13@mail.wvu.edu, before 4 p.m. Thursday, May 15, to receive parking information and other entry instructions.
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sj/5/5/25
MEDIA ADVISORY: Shauna Johnson
Executive Director of Strategic Communications
WVU Strategic Communications and Marketing
304-293-8302; sjohns13@mail.wvu.edu
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