Thirty-Seventh Commencement

Thomas Edison State College's Thirty-Seventh Commencement was held on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, at 2 p.m. in Patriot's Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton, N.J.



Watch Commencement 

Eligible students wishing to participate should return a Commencement Attendance Form and cap and gown order form to the Office of the Registrar by Monday, Aug. 3, 2009. Students who apply for September 2009 graduation will be mailed a commencement package after they have been certified for graduation.  Upon receipt of the Commencement Attendance Form, graduates participating in the Commencement ceremony will be mailed an additional commencement package which will include tickets, announcements, directions, details of the day's activities and information on local lodging and dining facilities.

Graduates are asked to arrive for Commencement at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. At that time you will receive your academic attire and will be given additional instructions regarding the ceremony. The academic attire has been especially ordered for each individual graduate attending Commencement and is yours to keep following the ceremony.

Use the links below for information on lodging, local attractions and other activities taking place on the day of Commencement.

• Why Not Celebrate?
  
  
• PHT Ceremony Information
  

For more information:
Office of the Registrar:  (609) 984-1180
Directions to the War Memorial

2009 Schedule of Events:

10:00 a.m.
Open House held at the College's historic Townhouse Complex located at 101 West State Street, Trenton, N.J. Complimentary light refreshments will be available.

10:30 a.m.
Honors Convocation, New Jersey State Museum Auditorium, located at 205 West State Street, Trenton, N.J.

11:30 a.m.
Graduates arrive at the War Memorial Building, located at Lafayette and Barrack streets in Trenton, N.J. to receive academic attire.

11:30 a.m.
Photo sessions available for all interested graduates.

1:00 p.m.
Theater opens for guest seating. Once the theater has reached the maximum seating capacity guests will be directed to the overflow area where they will view the ceremony via closed-circuit television.

1:30 p.m.
Graduates report to lower ballroom for instructions and line-up.

2:00 p.m.
Commencement ceremony (approximately two hours).

4:00 p.m.
Group photo for all graduates on front steps of The War Memorial Building (weather permitting).

4:30 p.m.
Graduate PHT dinner hosted by the Office of Alumni Affairs. Tickets must be purchased in advance to attend the dinner. Additional information may be requested at alumni@tesc.edu or 609-633-8592 ext. 2089.

Important Notes:

• When inviting guests to Commencement, please take into consideration the length of the ceremony.  The Commencement ceremony lasts for approximately two hours.  We encourage your participation in the entire ceremony.  Out of respect for our graduates, you and your guests are asked to remain throughout the entire ceremony. 
• Each graduate participating in Commencement will be sent six tickets; one for the graduate and up to five for guests. Each guest attending the ceremony will be required to have a ticket for entrance into the War Memorial. The theater will open at 1 p.m. for seating; all seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the theater has reached seating capacity guests will be directed to the overflow area where the ceremony will be telecast and viewed via closed-circuit television.
• Please be aware that Commencement can be a very long day for small children and elderly persons.  For your convenience there will be a room provided in which you may take small children to view the ceremony via closed-circuit television.  We strongly encourage everyone to utilize this room for children should the need arise.
• The following items are prohibited from the War Memorial Building: food and beverages; balloons of any type; audio equipment requiring electrical services (extension cords).
• The Patriot's Theater will open at 1 p.m. Although the War Memorial building will open at 11:30 a.m. for distribution of student caps and gowns, guests attending the ceremony are not permitted into the theater until 1 p.m. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. After 1:30 p.m. all seats will be filled (guests cannot "save" seats after this point).
• College souvenirs and memorabilia will be available for purchase by the Alumni Association. Representatives will also be on-site for those graduates wishing to purchase a school ring or diploma frame.
• An independent photographer will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. the day of Commencement to take portraits of the graduates.
• A group photograph of all the graduates will be taken immediately following the Commencement ceremony on the front steps of the War Memorial Building (weather permitting). All graduates are asked to go directly to the steps for the group photo.