May 06, 2019

WHAT:

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) will hold a series of ceremonies to honor its Class of 2019. This year more than 900 undergraduates and 500 graduate students will receive their degrees during separate events. The university will also host a commissioning ceremony for cadets of the Army, Navy, and Air Force ROTC programs. All events will be held on the WPI Quadrangle, 100 Institute Road, Worcester.

Thursday, May 9:

WHAT:

Graduate Commencement Exercises

WHO: Freeman A. Hrabowski III, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will deliver the graduate commencement address. Hrabowski has served as president of UMBC since 1992, and is a widely recognized leader in education, known for building UMBC into a well-respected research institution. He will receive an honorary doctor of arts degree.

WHEN:

5 p.m.

Friday, May 10:

WHAT:

ROTC Commencement Exercises

WHO:

The Worcester Consortium of Colleges Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) will hold a joint ceremony in which cadets in the Army, Navy, and Air Force programs at Brown University, Fitchburg State University, the College of the Holy Cross, WPI, Worcester State University, and the University of Massachusetts Lowell will be commissioned as officers. The 2019 Commissioning Officer is Major General Maria Barrett, Commanding General, U.S. Army Network Command, Fort Huachuca, Ariz.

WHEN:

12 p.m.

Saturday, May 11:

WHAT:

Undergraduate Commencement Exercises

WHO:

Ellen Stofan, the John and Adrienne Mars Director of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, will deliver the undergraduate commencement address. The museum is the world’s largest collection of aviation and space artifacts, and is home to the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies. Stofan will receive an honorary doctor of science degree.



WHEN:

10 a.m.

Media Credentials and Parking

Members of the media wishing to cover any or all of these events must have WPI-issued credentials. To obtain credentials and parking pass, contact:

Jessica Messier, Public Relations Specialist

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, Massachusetts

jmmessier@wpi.edu; 508-831-5937

or media@wpi.edu

Other parking and event information can be found here.

LOCATION