Eastern Florida State College recently issued the following announcement.
Eastern Florida State College will hold in-person graduation ceremonies for Fall Commencement on Dec. 16, honoring students who have earned their diplomas.
Two ceremonies are planned at noon and 3 p.m. at the King Center for the Performing Arts on the Melbourne Campus.
Graduates can each have two guests seated inside the King Center, with digital tickets, obtained in advance, required.
More than 1,800 students are eligible to graduate with about 700 indicating they want to participate in the ceremonies.
The ceremonies will be televised live on WEFS-TV and streamed on the college’s @easternflorida YouTube channel with a link also posted on the college website.
“Students graduating in December have run a gauntlet of difficult challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic but refused to let anything stop them,” said EFSC President Dr. Jim Richey.
“That will make these ceremonies very special and something to really cheer about for them and the families who have supported them.”
Here are details on the graduation ceremony reservation and advance ticketing process:
During the week of November 15, eligible graduates who RSVPd by the published Sept. 30 deadline to take part in commencement will receive an email from the King Center with unique, password-protected access to reserve tickets through the King Center's online ticketing system.
The free tickets will automatically be attached to the order when the student chooses either the noon or 3 p.m. ceremony, with the capacity at each commencement limited on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tickets will be delivered electronically, with guest tickets provided as a group of two assigned seats.
Pre-registered graduates will not need tickets to attend their ceremony, they only need to reserve the ceremony time through their custom link in the King Center email. Tickets are for their guests only.
Access for the first group of graduation candidates is exclusive through Nov. 30. After that date, any unclaimed seats at each ceremony will open for all students who have applied to graduate, with an email sent to those still eligible with a personal link to choose an available ceremony time and two guest tickets.
The Registrar's Office will also email pre-ceremony check-in details for Dec. 16, along with how to access regalia students may have earned such as Honors graduate and Veteran's cords.
Because of ticketing requirements, walk-up requests on Dec. 16 to participate in commencement cannot be accommodated. Guests of all ages will not be allowed in the King Center without a ticket and must sit in the seat location listed on the ticket. See more ticketing information.
Caps and gowns are required for the services and are available at the Eastern Florida bookstores.
Graduates will have a professional photo taken while they are on stage by GradImages and the company will contact students directly after commencement with details on available photos and how to purchase them.
While family members and guests are limited inside the King Center, additional family and friends are welcome outside on the grounds to take photos and celebrate with graduates before and after each ceremony.
Masks are optional inside all EFSC buildings and the King Center has returned to full capacity operations without social distancing in place.
For questions about commencement, email graduation@easternflorida.edu.
Original source can be found here.