Commencement Weekend | May 12 to 13, 2023

Additional events will be posted in March or April.

Friday, May 12

7:30 to 9 a.m. – Hot breakfast, Dining Hall, Bontrager Student Center
$5.75 adult, $4.50 child (5 to 12)
8:30 a.m. – Nursing Pinning rehearsal, sanctuary, Hesston Mennonite Church
10:30 a.m. – Graduation rehearsal, Start in Kropf & finish in Hesston Mennonite Church
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Lunch, Dining Hall, Bontrager Student Center
$9 adult, $6.75 child (5 to 12)
2 p.m. – Sophomore recital, Black Box Theater, Keim Center
Luke Huyard and Sadie Oesch
4 p.m. – Sophomore recital, Black Box Theater, Keim Center
Jesse Kanagy, Ginny Miller and Abraham Cadillo Quispe
5:30 to 7 p.m. – Dinner, Dining Hall, Bontrager Student Center
$9 adult, $6.75 child (5 to 12)
7 p.m. – Bel Canto Singers concert, sanctuary, Hesston Mennonite Church
8:30 p.m. – Business reception, Business Management Lounge, Kropf Center
A celebration of the first graduating class in the Bachelor of Arts in business management program. Come and go reception with a brief toast at 8:50 in honor of the graduates’ achievements and to express good wishes for their journey ahead.

Saturday, May 13

10 a.m. – Nursing Pinning Ceremony, sanctuary, Hesston Mennonite Church
A celebration recognizing the achievements of the 2023 baccalaureate degree nursing graduates.
Watch the livestream
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Brunch, Dining Hall, Bontrager Student Center
$9 adult, $6.75 child (5 to 12)
1 p.m. – Theatre Showcase and Student-Directed One-Act Play, Black Box Theater, Keim Center
Acting I and Acting II students will perform monologues and scenes from their work this semester. Immediately following, a short one act play, The Wall: A Pilgrimage, directed by Alexis Driscoll, will feature students from both acting classes. The show is about a family visiting the Vietnam War Memorial and the feelings each member faces when recalling the soldier they lost. This show fulfills the final requirement for the Directing course.
1 to 2 p.m. – Aviation Open House, Hesston College hangar, Newton City-County Airport
A celebration of our aviation graduates and students. Informal come and go with a short program at 1:30 p.m.
4 p.m. – Commencement, sanctuary, Hesston Mennonite Church
Riccardo Harris, executive director of Wichita GEAR UP at Wichita State University, will present the commencement address. Doors will open at 3 p.m. Before 3:30 p.m. a ticket will be required for seating in the sanctuary. General seating in the sanctuary will begin at 3:30 p.m. Overflow general seating with livestream will be available in the Hesston Mennonite Church Community Center across the hall from the sanctuary. No tripods are allowed in the sanctuary during the ceremony.
Watch the livestream
5 to 6 p.m. – Dinner, Dining Hall, Bontrager Student Center
$9 adult, $6.75 child (5 to 12)
following Commencement – Graduation Reception, lawn west of Hesston Mennonite Church
The alumni association invites everyone to enjoy refreshments and offer best wishes to the 2023 graduates and their families during an informal come and go reception immediately following commencement. Graduates can pick up a special gift from the alumni association.

Sunday, May 14

2 p.m. – Dorms Close
Erb Hall and Kauffman Court

Bookstore Hours

The Bookstore is located in Erb Hall.
Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.