By: Kye Kocher
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV)- Graduation is now only a month and a half away, and many graduating seniors may be finding themselves regarding their next step. It is easy to get lost in the middle of an inbox full of emails saying what you need and where to get it from.
Graduation Ceremony:
The 2023 spring Commencement ceremonies will take place in Bud Walton Arena, and Barnhill Arena on May 12 and 13. The first graduation ceremony will be for the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, and will take place on Friday, May 12 at 2:00p.m. in the Bud Walton Arena. The Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food & Life Sciences will also have a ceremony on May 12, but in Barnhill Arena at 3:30 p.m.
The commencement ceremonies will continue at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 13. The first ceremony will take place in Bud Walton Arena and will recognize graduate students from all colleges. Commencement ceremonies will take place throughout the day as follows:
College of Engineering in Barnhill Arena at 12:00 p.m.
Walton College of Business in Bud Walton Arena at 12:30 p.m.
Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design in Barnhill Arena at 3:30 p.m.
College of Education and Health Professions in Bud Walton Arena at 5:00 p.m.
No attendees for graduation need to purchase tickets. Guests are allowed to bring water into the arena, but are not allowed to bring balloons, wrapped presents, or strollers.
All guests can park for free in the purple spots located on the map.
Cap and Gown:
Caps and gowns can be ordered in person from the University of Arkansas Bookstore, or online by using their website.
Students can get their regalia on the same day if they choose to visit the bookstore, and the caps and gowns will be available in the bookstore up until graduation. If students cannot make it to the bookstore, students can visit cbgrad.com to order their cap and gown. According to the University of Arkansas Bookstore, the last day to order Regalia online is April 28, in order to ensure that all purchases will be delivered on time.
For undergraduate students, the cap, gown and tassel will all be black. Gowns can also be tailored to your height and weight.
Senior ring:
Senior rings are available for purchase through the Arkansas Alumni Association as well. Students who purchased a ring by March 27 will be invited to attend a ring ceremony which will take place in the Faulkner Performing Arts Center on May 5 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
At the ring ceremony, a speaker will talk about the history of the senior ring, recognize the participating seniors, and have photo opportunities with the Razorback mascots.
Cox said that something new that the Alumni Association is doing is taking dust from the engraving of the senior walk and using it within the ring so that the rings will be even more special.
Students who did not order their ring before March 27 can still order the rings online.
Cox said that senior rings are very special to have, because they connect you to others.
“It’s an identifier of who we are as a university, who we are as graduates of the University of Arkansas, and I believe we have a really strong connection to one another in that family sense. That senior just gives you that piece that you always carry with you,” Cox said.
Senior pictures:
While it is not required, many students want to take senior photos. Many of these photos are taken across campus in the spring. If seniors choose to send out graduation announcements, the photos can be used on them. There are many places to take these photos across campus, and Fayetteville. Some of the more popular options include:
Chi Omega Greek Theatre
Kimpel Hall deck overlooking Dickson Street
Architecture Building
Old Main
Mullins Library
Pi Phi Gates
Memorabilia:
SAKE is a student run business which works to sell products to commemorate students and alumni’s time at the University of Arkansas. This business sells products such as diploma frames, printed sketches of University of Arkansas landmarks, and name plates with etchings names from the senior walk. While these items are also not required to have upon graduation, many alumni and students do want to purchase them. Manager of the Legacy sales team at SAKE, Tomas Farrar, said he thinks these items help you to be able to show off your success while in college.
“Our products allow you to take a piece of Arkansas with you, and you’re commemorating your time here, and you really get to enjoy that for the rest of your life as a certification of your success,” Farrar said.
These types of memorabilia items can be purchased from SAKE even after you graduate by using the Forever Red website or visiting the Entrepreneurship HUB.
Senior Walk:
In order to have your name etched into the senior walk, all you must do is give consent when you register for graduation. According to the Executive Editor for University Relations, Charlie Alison, the names are etched into the stone about a year after you graduate. Alison also said that there are more than 208,000 names currently on the sidewalk, and by the time that the 2023 spring graduates are engraved into the senior walk, there will be more than 220,000 names. Alison also predicts that the 2023 graduate’s names will appear on the sidewalk that is on the north side of Maple Street, across from the football stadium parking lot.
Becoming an alumnus:
For students who are looking to stay connected with the University of Arkansas after graduation, the Arkansas Alumni Association has ways to help students stay connected.
Associate Vice Chancellor for University of Arkansas Alumni, Brandy Cox Jackson said this engagement with others after graduation is very beneficial.
“We really want you to be able to get engaged with your alumni groups wherever you are,” Jackson said.
Jackson said that holding an alumni membership allows you to have many opportunities that you would not be able to have otherwise. She said that the membership allows you to connect with people in order to do fun things like attend Razorback watch parties in whatever city you are in.
There are multiple ways to gain your alumnus membership status. The first way is by downloading the Arkansas Alumni app to your phone and signing up. Jackson said that the Alumni Association provides all new graduates with their first year of membership for free so that everyone can join. Another way is by visiting the RazorLink website which allows you to connect with former University of Arkansas graduates from all over the world. RazorLink can also connect you to graduates who share the same interests as you so that you can connect with them.