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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

Honor Citations at Commencement Ceremonies
Associate and bachelor’s degree students who have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or greater are eligible to have an honor citation announced at commencement. Your honor citation will be noted on the name card you receive in the mail prior to the ceremony. Honor citations are NOT printed in the commencement program.
 

Associate and Bachelor’s honor citations:

  • GPA of 3.5 - 3.69: Cum Laude
  • GPA of 3.7 - 3.89: Magna Cum Laude
  • GPA of 3.9 - 4.0: Summa Cum Laude
     

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

National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS)

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society

The Society for Collegiate Leadership & Achievement (SCLA)