Graduation is here already!
Remember when your Dawg was an incoming freshman and now, within a few months, graduation! They will be graduating and looking towards the next step in their lives. For some it will be graduate school, for some it may be the military and for some, it may be their first job in the “real” world. Whatever it will be, graduation is a very proud and exciting time!
UGA has two graduation ceremonies, one in December, and one in May. The December ceremony is held in Stegeman Coliseum while the May ceremony is held in Sanford Stadium. There are also departmental ceremonies that are for your specific major to be recognized. Here are some helpful tips and some guidance to ensure that the time for graduation is the most memorable time and not the most stressful.
Where to stay
You may think six to nine months before graduation is a crazy amount of time to make hotel reservations, however, most local hotels will be sold out for the weekend of graduation so plan ahead. Our hotel blog will give you an up to date and thorough list of hotels in the UGA area. Athens has a large downtown area but if you run into issues booking a hotel, Airbnb is a great option when looking for a place for the weekend. You can choose the size accommodation that you need and if an additional family member suddenly decides at the last minute, they want to join you, you won’t be scrambling to find a place for them to stay.
Reservations for Brunch, Lunch or Dinner
When my niece graduated from UGA two years ago, my sister called a local restaurant six months prior to her graduation and felt a bit foolish when she said she wanted to make a reservation six months in advance. The woman at the restaurant said they already had about ten reservations. So, make sure you plan early. Colleges typically release graduation dates months in advance and I would highly recommend making a reservation at your favorite tried and true restaurant. Check out our blog on dinner restaurants, brunch restaurants, and breakfast restaurants. These blogs will give you a ton of choices ranging from expensive to moderate. We also have a blog strictly dedicated to graduation restaurants in Athens that will give you information about the places that do and do not accept reservations on graduation weekend and how to go about getting those.
Have your camera ready
Make sure your phones, cameras, video recorders are fully charged. Many times, parents forget to charge their devices and wind up not capturing that special moment. UGA does allow credentialed photographers on the field at Sanford or on the floor at Stegeman. If you do choose to hire a photographer, they must apply for credentials. Many students get photographed in popular places on campus prior to graduation as well. We recommend several reputable photographers.
Stay Calm
As I said, this is one of the most enjoyable proud moments in your student’s life; don’t worry about the small things, just enjoy and be present. Here are just a few other important details about graduation day.
Watching From Home
If you for any reason you or a family member are not able to get to graduation, UGA offers a live stream so that you can see your child walk across the stage, information regarding that live stream.
Disabled or Special Needs
If your party needs any special accommodation at the ceremony because of a visual or hearing disability, please contact the Disability Resource Center, 706-542-8719. Guests with limited mobility should find an usher who will direct them to special seating locations. There will be limited wheelchair seating around each venue. There will be disability accessible buses to shuttle guests to and from the parking lot.
Cap & Gown is Extra
Wondering how much your student will need to pay for the cap and gown which is required if they are walking? UGA graduates wear black gowns with tassel colors varying by degree. Master’s and Doctoral degree candidates wear black robes with a blue, green, and yellow hood. This tassel color-swatch sheet provides examples of the tassel colors traditionally associated with the various academic disciplines.
For Bachelor’s (cap and gown) and Master’s (cap, gown, and hood) regalia, you purchase as a bundle on the bookstore website. Bachelor’s cost about $60 and the Master’s is about $110. Doctoral Degree you will want to rent because they are custom and the cost will set you back quite a bit. All doctoral candidates must wear a hood. Graduate candidates will need to first apply for graduation. Once approved, they can order their regalia online.
Delivery
It is very common to want to send your student congratulatory flowers, fruit, or balloons to celebrate their graduation accomplishment. Below are some local Athens places that do deliveries.
- Edible Arrangements: 1040 Gaines School Rd Suite 111
- Flowerland: 823 Prince Ave
- Frances Florist: 1244 Hull Rd
- Petals on Prince: 1470 Prince Ave
- Perryander Studio: 1093 Baxter St
- Up N Away Balloons: 280 Frederick Dr
- Bouqs: These beautiful flowers come from eco-friendly farms that use sustainable growing practices which means longer lasting flowers and no middlemen. You can buy individually or start a subscription.
For more information regarding UGA’s Commencement Ceremonies, check out their website. HaveUHeard that you can order a replacement or duplicate diploma should you need to?
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