Commencement Rehearsal
Rehearsal will be Thursday, June 15, 2023, from 12:00pm - 1:00pm in the Sherar Gym. Your attendance is essential to ensure a smooth commencement ceremony.
Honor Cords
Graduates with exceptional academic qualifications who are completing a bachelor/ associate degree or a certificate requiring 45 or more credits are eligible to receive honor cords based on their YVC cumulative college-level grade point average (GPA) as of Winter Quarter 2023 Honors: 3.40 - 3.84 High Honors: 3.85 - 4.0 There is no charge for [...]
Attire
Graduates will be primarily in two colors of gowns. The bachelor degree graduates in black, and the associate degree and certificate of achievement graduates in maroon. Running Start Students can choose to wear YVC’s maroon or their high school gown. Caps & gowns are not required to participate in the commencement ceremony. In addition to [...]
Guests
Guests can start arriving at 4:00pm. Children are welcome, but please keep in mind that the ceremony is lengthy. If your guests have difficulty climbing stairs, please make sure they arrive early for better seating. Important: Be sure to let your guests know that, for safety reasons, strollers are not permitted on the bleachers, and [...]
Special Accommodations
If special accommodations are needed for you or your guests, please contact DSS@yvcc.edu. YVC does provide an American Sign Language interpreter who will be visible in the two projection screens during the ceremony.
Parking
Parking is available at the Yakima Valley SunDome at no charge.
Photographs
Cameras are allowed in the SunDome. Guests can photograph graduates but cannot come onto the arena floor. A professional photographer will be taking individual student photographs prior to the ceremony—from 4:00 to 5:30pm—and our Community Relations staff will be taking additional pictures during the ceremony.
Non-Smoking
The SunDome is a non-smoking area. Please inform your guests that smoking is allowed in designated areas only.
Commencement Schedule
4:00 p.m. Photography begins at the SunDome. They will be located on the right as you enter the building. Will continue until 5:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m. Check-in begins at the tables on the left as you enter the SunDome. Please arrive no later than 5:30 p.m. Check-in will close promptly at 5:45 p.m. Line up [...]