May 13-15

BLUE AND YELLOW DINNER

Friday, May 13, at 6 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; commuter student tickets are $12.00. Graduating students will be able to reserve their own tickets and purchase three guest tickets in Raney Dining Room on April 11 and 12. Guest tickets are $15.00 for adults and $12.00 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 13, room allowing. If seating is available, other Cottey students will be able to reserve their tickets April 14-15. Box lunch sign-ups will also take place during the week of April 11-15 for students not participating in the Blue and Yellow Dinner.

CAPPING

Saturday, May 14, at 7 p.m. on steps of Main Hall

Saturday evening 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 traditional mortarboard upon her head the evening before Commencement. Today, each student selects two or three cappers to participate in the ceremony, which takes place on the front steps of Main Hall, weather permitting. Graduating students will wear their academic regalia. Capping is organized by the second- and fourth-year classes and further information and instructions will be shared later.

COTTEY’S 138TH COMMENCEMENT

Sunday, May 15, at 10 a.m. in Hinkhouse

The 2022 Commencement speaker is Amity Bryson, Class of 1993. Dr. Bryson is the chair of the School of Performing Arts at Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri. She has been invited to perform a residency at Carnegie Hall in May 2022, and is thrilled to have both current Cottey students and Cottey alumni in her ensemble.

Graduates will meet in the Chapel at 9:30 a.m. Each will receive a daisy to carry in the procession to Hinkhouse Center, 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. Freshmen and juniors participating in the Daisy Chain must wear white.

Please forward this information regarding Commencement to your family and friends who will be attending. The link for the College’s masking policy is located on the website at www.cottey.edu/covid-19.

Honors and Awards Convocation: Students are recognized for outstanding achievements at Honors and Awards Convocation on Saturday, May 7, at 4 p.m. Prestigious 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 a 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.

Required Rehearsals: All students are required to attend a Commencement rehearsal on Thursday afternoon, May 12, at 1 p.m. in the Hinkhouse Gymnasium. Students must be present to receive important instructions essential for the ceremony to run smoothly.

The Spirit Shop will be open from 2:30-4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 14.

Brunch will be offered in Raney Dining Room on Sunday, May 15. Advance tickets are not required; guests will pay at the door. Tickets are $12.00 for adults, $9.00 for children ages 6–12, and $9.00 for commuter students. There is no charge for residential students. The residence halls close at 5 p.m.

Livestreaming: Commencement and Honors and Awards will be live-streamed for those who cannot make it to campus. The links to those streams will be placed on this commencement page the week of the event.

If you have additional questions about Commencement please email acadaffairs@cottey.edu.

Commencement weekend is important for Cottey, and we will have many visitors on campus. Cottey students who require disability-related accommodations or have questions about accessibility for Commencement events should contact Heather English at (417) 667-8181, extension 2131 or henglish@cottey.edu by April 22, 2021, or as soon as the need is realized. To request accessibility accommodations for guests, please contact McGee Stoller at (417) 667-8181, extension 2103 or mstoller@cottey.edu by April 22, 2021, or as soon as the need is realized.