For Graduates

Senior Portraits

All graduates are invited to have a professional portrait taken by our vendor, Island Photography. The spring date for Senior Portraits is Tuesday, April 4, 2023. Information about how to sign up will be shared via email and on this webpage when it’s available.

Academic Regalia, Stoles and Honor Cords

Academic Regalia

Graduates participating in the Espejo, Hooding, and/or Commencement ceremonies are required to wear academic regalia, which is ordered through our vendor, Herff Jones. Academic regalia consists of a cap, tassel, gown, and hood. The cap and tassel are for graduates to keep, but the gown and hood are rentals and must be returned following Commencement. Graduates are welcome to decorate their caps - see “Cap Decoration” and “Dress Code” on the Commencement Exercises page.

Graduates are responsible for ordering regalia. The cost is covered by the graduation fee that was included on your term bill. Other optional Commencement supplies such as announcements and diploma frames are available for purchase from Herff Jones as well.

Online cap and gown ordering is now OPEN! To order online, click HERE or navigate to www.herffjones.com and enter “Cedar Crest College” in the search bar. The deadline to order your regalia and any other supplies is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, March 20, 2023.

After you click on “Cap and Gown,” you need to choose your degree program – bachelor’s, master’s, or Doctor of Nursing practice. On the next page, you can purchase a “Graduation Package” which bundles your regalia with other optional Commencement supplies at a discounted price. If you want to order regalia ONLY, click “Cap and Gown” in the blue headers along the top, and you will be directed to the page showing no cost for regalia only.

Academic regalia will be delivered to the College Bookstore 1-2 weeks prior to Commencement. Graduates will be notified of pick-up dates and times by email. The shipping address you enter during the ordering process ONLY applies to optional supplies such as announcements and diploma frames. A demonstration of how to wear your regalia will be provided during our virtual Commencement Rehearsal – details to come.

The College Bookstore Manager will be on hand at the PPL Center following the ceremony to collect gown and hood returns. If you are unable to return your gown and hood at the PPL Center, you may also visit the College Bookstore on the lower level of the Tompkins College Center from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 13.

Honor Cords

Honor cords for students graduating cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude may be purchased through the College Bookstore once final GPAs are determined in mid- to late-April. Delphi honor cords are provided by the Office of the Provost. Graduates receiving Delphi cords will be contacted by the Office of the Provost prior to Commencement. Other honor cords may be provided by the academic departments. Check with your professor or the department chair for more information.

Heritage and Identity Stoles

Heritage and Identity Stoles are meant to commemorate your Cedar Crest experience, including academic achievements, extracurricular activities, study abroad or Sophomore Expedition destination, or to show pride for your identity, heritage, or culture.

Heritage and Identity Stoles can be purchased from the College Bookstore through Friday, May 5, 2023. Graduates who wish to have their stole officially presented to them should bring them to the Espejo celebration.

The following varieties are available:

Heritage and Identity Stoles

A. Asian Pacific Islander Stole
The stole pattern for Asian and Pacific Islanders is typically adorned by flowers and includes red with gold or yellow to represent colors used in the islands and in Chinese culture. The pattern serves to celebrate the rich and diverse heritage of Asian and Pacific Islander people.

B. Cedar Crest Stole with Ginkgo Leaf
The ginkgo is a symbol of longevity, hope and peace. For students, Cedar Crest is also a place of hope. Students celebrate their Cedar Crest pride with a stole adorned with the Cedar Crest logo—honoring their dedication and love for their alma mater.

C. Falcon Athletics Stole
Cedar Crest College embraces and supports our student-athletes' desire to be successful, both in the classroom and on the playing field. Athletes proudly wear the Falcon Head stole to show that athletics was an integral part of their educational process.

D. Kente Stole
Kente cloth, a symbol of African heritage originating with the Asante tribe in Ghana, West Africa, dates back to the 12th century and was once favored by African royalty. The Kente cloth is meant to be worn during special occasions and this design serves to celebrate the success of our Black graduating students.

E/F. Latinx and Sarape Stoles
Sarape stoles are fabricated using a traditional Mexican striped weave pattern and serve to express pride in the heritage of Mexicans and Latin Americans.

G. LGBTQA+ Stole
The LGBTQA+ stole serves to express pride in one’s Gender and Sexuality Diversity (GSD) and to honor and acknowledge the achievements and contributions of our GSD graduates.

H. Native American Stole
Using a traditional Navajo pattern from Southwest Cochiti, New Mexico, a location populated by indigenous peoples for centuries, this stole serves to celebrate a connection with American Natives.

I. Veteran Stole
The navy blue Veteran stole commends graduating students for their service in the United States military.

J. First Generation Stole – NEW!
The first generation stole serves to celebrate the accomplishments of students who are the first in their families to graduate college.

K. International and Study Abroad Stoles

International stoles provide visual recognition perfect for representing countries of origin or a student’s study abroad experience. Each stole is decorated with emblems or colors representing that country's flag.

Please direct any questions to Breanna Ganther in the College Bookstore at bookstore@cedarcrest.edu or 610-740-3765.

Guests/Tickets

Each graduate participating in the Commencement ceremony is entitled to order guest tickets through the PPL Center’s online ticketing system. There is no limit to the number of tickets this year. However, ONLY graduates who have completed the Commencement Attendance Form will be notified via email when online ticketing is open – typically in late April or early May.

Once you click on the ticketing link, you will be asked to enter your email address and password to create an account with the PPL Center. You can use any email address – your Cedar Crest account or a personal email – and whatever password you choose.

A ticket is required for any guest entering the PPL Center for the Nursing Pinning and Commencement ceremonies, except for children under two years of age. Graduates do not require tickets themselves, nor do faculty, staff, or trustees participating in the academic procession and who will be seated on the arena floor or in the stage party.

Although tickets are required for entry, guest seating is unassigned and on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the ceremony. Guests should refrain from saving seats and are asked to respect reserved signs and accessible seating that may be put up by the PPL Center or the College.

Tickets can be printed or shown on a mobile device. Tickets will only scan once, and per the PPL Center’s policies, anyone attempting to use a duplicate ticket will be denied entry to the arena.

Virtual Graduation Fair

The Graduation Fair will again take place virtually as a module in the Commencement Course on Canvas. All eligible graduates will be enrolled in the course, which can be found in the Courses list.

Join us to learn more about:

Graduate programs
Alumnae Association membership
Senior Class gift
Senior Week activities
Job searching, resume writing and interviewing tips
Settling outstanding balances, loan exit counseling or financial aid
Class standing or academic honors
Regalia, Identity and Heritage stoles, honor cords and other Commencement supplies

The Virtual Graduation Fair and the Virtual Commencement Rehearsal webpages will launch on March 16, 2023.

Virtual Commencement Rehearsal

Commencement Rehearsal will again take place virtually as a module in the Commencement Course on Canvas. All eligible graduates will be enrolled in the course, which can be found in the Courses list.

The virtual Commencement Rehearsal will cover information such as:

How to dress in your academic regalia
Explanation of the academic procession and counting graduates into their seats at the PPL Center
Appropriate behavior and dress code
Name pronunciation for announcement during the Ceremony
What to expect during the ceremony – how to walk across the stage, etc.
Answers to graduates’ questions

The Virtual Graduation Fair and the Virtual Commencement Rehearsal webpages will launch on March 16, 2023.

Roses for Graduates

Honor your graduate’s achievement with beautiful roses! Roses are available in a variety of colors by the dozen, arranged in a bouquet tied with ribbons representing school colors, and include a gift card with your personal message. All proceeds from this sale benefit Crime Victims Council of the Lehigh Valley, a nonprofit United Way agency dedicated to making the world a safer place.

Orders can be made online or submitted by mail with cash, check, or money order accompanied by this order form. The deadline to order is Monday, May 8.

Roses will be available for pick-up at the PPL Center inside the 69 News and Lehigh Valley Health Network Entrances (between sections 112 and 118) from 9 – 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 13.