MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Several of the state’s colleges and universities will hold commencement ceremonies this weekend.

West Virginia University has nine separate ceremonies scheduled beginning Friday. All of the ceremonies will be held at the WVU Coliseum, according to WVU Director of News Communications Shauna Johnson.

“The ceremonies are spaced out, they’ll be about two and a half to three hours, depending  on which ceremony,” said Johnson. “9 o’clock Friday, you have the WVU College of Law, noon Friday is School of Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Public Health, 4 o’clock on Friday is School of Medicine, then on Saturday you do 9 (a.m.), 12:30 (p.m.) and 4 (p.m.),” she said.

The 2024 Spring Commencement ceremonies also mark the first time the ceremonies have been held in one location at WVU sine the Covid-19 pandemic which, according to Johnson, was aimed at addressing traffic woes. This will also allow for parking spaces by the Canaday Creative Arts Center to be opened that were formerly occupied by graduates who had ceremonies at that location.

“This change is designed to streamline things a little bit, because if you’ve ever seen a bunch of people try to leave the Coliseum at the same time they’re trying to get into the Creative Arts Center, it created some issues,” Johnson said. “So by bringing everybody into the Coliseum, we’re hoping to eliminate some of the traffic backups.”

There are no ticket requirements for anyone wishing to attend the commencement ceremonies, and graduates are allowed to have as many guests as they want to watch them walk the podium. The WVU Clear Bag Policy will be in place, with notifications placed outside of the Coliseum entrances.

WVU student Rachel Johnson will officially get her Master’s Degree as part of the Reed College of Media’s ceremony scheduled for Saturday. With family ties to WVU that go back generations, Johnson is ready to receive her degree and enjoy the moment.

“My parents went to WVU, so did my grandparents, I have a sister who’s actually graduating this weekend from the School of Medicine so it was pretty clear choice for me where I was going to get my first and second degrees,” she said.

Johnson will join the Monongalia County tourism firm Visit Mountaineer Country CVB as their new marketing director.

Capito to speak twice

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito will do double-duty this commencement weekend. Capito will address graduates of the WVU School of Medicine on Friday and deliver the commencement address at Bethany College in Ohio County on Saturday.

Capito said during her Thursday media briefing that her commencement addresses carry similar themes including celebrating the accomplishment but also giving back to the state.

“I’ll tell them and implore to them how much we need them, we need their young minds and energy for the future of our state,” she said.

Her speeches will also encourage communication, Capito said.

“To look up from their devices and have conversations rather than just rely on your phone, your text messages, Facebook or whatever,” Capito said.

She added she’ll throw in some words about mothers at both ceremonies because they fall on Mother’s Day weekend.

Other ceremonies this weekend

–Fairmont State University will have three ceremonies Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.

–West Virginia State University’s main ceremony is set for 10 a.m. Saturday on the campus at Institute.

–BridgeValley Community and Technical College will honor graduates at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.