Lander University will celebrate the academic achievements of the Class of 2024 during its 170th Commencement Exercises on Thursday, December 12, in Finis Horne Arena.
The University will hold two ceremonies that day, with 442 graduates expected to take part in morning and afternoon exercises. Graduates will attend their designated ceremony based on their respective academic colleges.
10 a.m. Ceremony
2 p.m. Ceremony
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Shana Southard Dobbs, Lander’s 2024 Distinguished Professor of the Year and associate professor of psychology, will serve as keynote speaker for both ceremonies.
A dedicated educator and researcher, Southard-Dobbs has earned recognition for her teaching excellence and her impactful research on trauma and cognition, including receiving Lander’s Junior Faculty Teaching Award in 2019. Since joining Lander in 2016, she has mentored students, supervised the Stress and Cognition Lab, and collaborated on studies exploring psychological factors in various fields, including music theory education.
Tickets
Tickets are required to enter Finis Horne Arena. Graduates will receive up to nine (9) tickets for guest seating in the arena during their ceremony. Guests without tickets will be directed to the overflow area, where a livestream of the ceremony will be playing.
The Registrar’s Office will provide printed tickets to each graduate in November. Please note that these tickets are assigned to specific ceremony times and cannot be exchanged for a different time. Official graduation tickets are only available through the Registrar’s Office, and virtual/online tickets are not valid for entry to the arena.
Guest Arrival
Doors to Horne Arena will open one (1) hour prior to each ceremony. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and is not reserved. It is recommended that guests arrive early to allow enough time for parking, security screening, and finding seating. Those who arrive late will be directed to the Abney Cultural Center, where the ceremony will be livestreamed in the auditorium.
Parking
Parking is free and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests with limited mobility or physical disabilities may be dropped off at the Willson Street entrance of Horne Arena.
Security
The University’s clear bag policy will be enforced in Finis Horne Arena and the Abney Cultural Center Auditorium. Metal detectors will be used at all entrances and items are subject to search. Noisemakers, airhorns and similar items are not permitted inside Horne Arena. Additionally, balloons, banners and other items that obstruct guests’ views of the stage are prohibited.
Livestream
For those unable to attend in person, the University will broadcast both ceremonies via livestream on the Lander website at www.lander.edu.
Additional Information
For more information about Lander’s commencement exercises, visit www.lander.edu/graduation.