COMMENCEMENT AWARDS
To be considered for a commencement award all candidates must register to attend a 2023 commencement ceremony, meet the qualifications listed below, and submit the Award Application by the deadline below. Only one Valedictorian and Outstanding Graduate are chosen per in-person ceremony, and only one Featured Graduate is chosen per virtual ceremony. The winners are chosen based on the qualifications listed below as well as responses submitted on the award application.
Award applications for in-person commencement ceremonies are now open. Award applications will open for the virtual commencement ceremony in July.
2023 DATES & DEADLINES
DC Commencement
Date: Saturday, June 24, 2023
Award Submission Deadline: Friday, April 28, 2023
Atlanta Commencement
Date: Saturday, September 16, 2023
Award Submission Deadline: Friday, July 21, 2023
December Virtual Commencement
Date: Saturday, December 2, 2023
Award Submission Deadline: Friday, October 6, 2023
Valedictorian Requirements
To be eligible for Valedictorian, graduates must meet the following qualifications:
- Must be registered for an in-person ceremony
- Must be receiving a bachelor’s degree
- Must have a final 4.0 GPA
- Must have completed all coursework by the award submission deadline
- Have been approved for degree conferral by the award submission deadline
- Must be present at the ceremony to deliver a 3 to 5 minute Valedictorian speech
Apply to become Valedictorian
Outstanding Graduate Requirements
To be eligible for the Outstanding Graduate Award, graduates must meet the following qualifications:
- Must be registered for an in-person ceremony
- Must be receiving a master’s degree
- Must have a final 4.0 GPA
- Must have completed all coursework by the award submission deadline
- Have been approved for degree conferral by the award submission deadline
- Must be present at the ceremony to accept the award
Apply to become the Outstanding Graduate
Featured Graduate Requirements
To be eligible for the Featured Graduate award, graduates must meet the following qualifications:
- Must be registered for Virtual Commencement
- Must be receiving a bachelor’s or master's degree
- Must have a final 4.0 GPA
- Must have completed all coursework by the award submission deadline
- Have been approved for degree conferral by the award submission deadline
- Must deliver a 3 to 5 minute speech which will be shown during the Virtual Commencement ceremony
Apply to become the Featured Graduate
Donald R. Stoddard Faculty Award of Excellence
Nominate a faculty member for their outstanding teaching skills, superior ability to motivate students, contribution to a positive learning environment and sincere passion for their profession.
Degree Banner Carrier
Degree banner carriers lead their fellow graduates in the processional by carrying their degree banner flag. Degree banner carriers are selected and contacted by the commencement committee and are the students with the highest GPA by degree program - no application necessary. Degree banner carriers must be present and willing to carry the degree banner in the graduate processional.
HONOR SOCIETIES & HONORS AT COMMENCEMENT
Honors Designations at Commencement Ceremonies
Honors designations at commencement ceremonies are based on the degree candidate's cumulative academic record as of the commencement registration deadline. Your honors designation will be noted on the name card you receive in the mail prior to the ceremony. Honors designations are NOT printed in the commencement program.
Associate and bachelor’s candidates whose cumulative grade point average is 3.5 or greater will have the following honors designation printed on their name card, which will be read aloud upon crossing the stage: cum laude 3.5‐3.69, magna cum laude 3.7‐3.89, summa cum laude 3.9‐4.0.
Master’s candidates whose cumulative grade point average is 3.9 or greater will have the following honors designation printed on their name card, which will be read aloud upon crossing the stage: graduate with distinction 3.9-3.94, graduate with high distinction 3.95-4.0.
Honor Medallions
All degree candidates who have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or greater are eligible to receive and wear a complimentary Strayer University honor medallion at the commencement ceremony. For in-person commencement ceremonies, honor medallions are ONLY available at the commencement ceremony and can be obtained in the graduate area. Your eligibility will be noted on the name card you receive in the mail prior to the ceremony. For virtual commencement ceremonies, honor medallions will be mailed to eligible degree candidates to the home address included on their registration.
Honors Scholar
Degree candidates who are honors scholars within the honors program (see eligibility requirements here - coursework must be completed to be eligible) are eligible to receive and wear a complimentary honors scholar cord at the commencement ceremony. For in-person commencement ceremonies, honors scholar cords are ONLY available at the commencement ceremony and can be obtained in the graduate area. Your eligibility will be noted on the name card you receive in the mail prior to the ceremony. For virtual commencement ceremonies, eligible degree candidates will receive an honors scholar cord to the home address included on their registration. Your honors scholar citation will be announced at commencement, but will NOT be printed in the commencement program.
Honor Society Membership Information
All degree candidates who are members of one or more of the following honor societies recognized by Strayer University by the registration deadlines will have their name printed in the commencement program under their respective honor society. Honor society members are encouraged to wear their respective honor society’s honor cords, medallions or stoles at commencement (purchasing information included in the links below). Honor society items are NOT sold the day of the ceremony and NOT sold by Jostens.
Alpha Chi National Honor Society
Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society
Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society
Golden Key International Honour Society
