May 16-17

BLUE AND YELLOW DINNER

Friday, May 16, at 5 p.m. in Raney Dining Room.

A traditional meal celebrating all graduates. 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, and commuter student tickets will be paid for by Cottey’s SGA. Graduating students will be able to reserve their own tickets and purchase three guest tickets in Raney Dining Room on April 7 and 8. 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 9, room allowing. If seating is available, other Cottey students will be able to reserve their tickets April 10-11. Box lunch sign-ups will also take place during the week of April 7-11 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 16, 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 classesandfurther 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 141st COMMENCEMENT

Saturday, May 17, at 10 a.m. in the Center for the Arts Auditorium

The 2025 Commencement speaker will be Carol Littleton, an Academy Award-winning film editor and a 1962 Cottey graduate. Each graduate is allowed up to six (6) guests, and all guests must have a ticket to enter the Auditorium. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis, with doors opening at 9:15 a.m.

Overflow seating will be provided in the Missouri Recital Hall, where guests can watch the ceremony via livestream. To comply with fire codes, standing in the aisles will not be permitted in either the Auditorium or the Recital Hall. Graduates will gather in the lobby of the Rogers Fine Arts Building (RFAB) at 9:30 a.m., where they will each receive a daisy to carry in the procession to the Auditorium. Upon entering, graduates will place their daisies in a basket in the foyer. These daisies will then be distributed to students participating in the Daisy Chain, a tradition that symbolizes the connection between past and future classes.

Non-graduating students are encouraged to participate in the Daisy Chain and are asked to wear white. Those interested should meet around the Tango statue on the east side of the Center for the Arts at 9:40 a.m. Reserved seating will be available for students who take part in the Daisy Chain.

Honors and Awards Convocation: Students are recognized for outstanding achievements at Honors and Awards Convocation on Tuesday, May 6, 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.