May 10-11

BLUE AND YELLOW DINNER

Friday, May 10, at 5 p.m. in Raney Dining Room.

Dressier attire is appropriate for all who attend. Seating for this meal is limited and advanced tickets are required. There is no charge for residential students or commuter students. Graduating students will be able to reserve their own tickets and purchase three guest tickets in Raney Dining Room on April 8 and 9. Guest tickets are $18 for adults and $14 for children ages 6-12, and tickets must be paid for at the time the reservation is made. Graduating students requiring more than three tickets can purchase additional tickets on April 10, room allowing. If seating is available, other Cottey students will be able to reserve their tickets April 11-12. Box lunch sign-ups will also take place during the week of April 8-12 for students not participating in the Blue and Yellow Dinner. Any student not participating in the Blue and Yellow Dinner must sign up for an alternative sack lunch during the week of ticket sales.

CAPPING

Friday, May 10, at 6:45 p.m. on steps of Main Hall (In case of rain meet in auditorium)

Capping is a tradition that dates to the early days of the College when each graduate of the two-year program selected a first-year student to place the mortarboard upon her head the evening before Commencement. Today, each graduate selects up to three cappers to participate in the ceremony, which takes place on the front steps of Main Hall. Graduating students will wear their academic regalia. Traditionally, cappers wear white dresses or slacks and male cappers wear white shirts and khaki pants. Capping is organized by the second- and fourth-year classes and further information will be shared later. Students and their family members are welcome to join Dr. Niles for a Dessert Reception beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the President’s House (738 W. Cherry) following Capping.

COTTEY’S 140TH COMMENCEMENT

Saturday, May 11, at 10 a.m. in the Center for the Arts Auditorium

The 2024 Commencement speaker is Barbara Mistick, president of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. The number of guests per graduate at Commencement will not be limited; however, seating in the Auditorium will be on a first-come basis. Doors will open at 9:15 a.m. Overflow seating will be available in the Missouri Recital Hall for guests to watch the ceremony via livestream. To comply with fire codes, guests will not be permitted to stand in the aisles in either the Auditorium or the Recital Hall.

Graduates will meet in the lobby of the Rogers Fine Arts Building (RFAB) at 9:30 a.m. Each will receive a daisy to carry in the procession to the Auditorium, placing it in a basket in the foyer when entering. The daisies will then be distributed to students participating in the Daisy Chain. Passing Cottey’s flower from one class to another on this occasion symbolizes the tie between past and future classes.

Any non-graduating student is welcome to participate in the Daisy Chain and is asked to wear white. Students who wish to be a part of the Daisy Chain should meet in the Rose Garden on the east side of the Center for the Arts at 9:30 a.m. Reserved seating will be available in the Auditorium for students who participate in the Daisy Chain.

Honors and Awards Convocation: Students are recognized for outstanding achievements at Honors and Awards Convocation on Wednesday, May 1, at 7 p.m. in the Missouri Recital Hall. Scholarships and awards in recognition of distinguished achievement as selected by the faculty are presented. Other noteworthy awards, including the Marie K. Busch Freshman of the Year, selected by vote of the student body, will be awarded. The Student Commencement Speaker and the Outstanding Associate Graduate, who will receive Hawaiian leis from Chapter C, Hawaii, will be announced. Award recipients will be notified in advance. Recipients are expected to be in attendance if possible.