We are very pleased to announce that we expect to hold one single commencement ceremony for the entire Class of 2021! Commencement will take place at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 23 and will be memorable for our graduates while still taking into consideration COVID-19 protocols and the safety of our students and their loved ones.

In many ways, this year’s commencement will look like the traditional ceremonies of the past. Graduates in cap and gown will line up to process with other members of the Class of 2021. On the platform in front of Memorial Building, President Murray will be waiting to greet our graduates, present their diplomas and cheer their many accomplishments.

There are some important changes we must make, though. While we wish we could gather with all our students and their loved ones to celebrate together, one significant logistical detail we must take into account is current state COVID-19 guidelines. We are asking all family and friends to take part in commencement by watching the livestream of the ceremony on this website, as we cannot welcome you physically onto our campus during the graduation celebration or we would far exceed the allowed number of people. As tired as many of us are of looking at screens, we continue to be thankful for the technology that allows us to celebrate these significant moments when we cannot be together in-person. For families and friends who are in town, please make plans to watch the ceremony remotely. We are unable to allow you to watch the ceremony in person.

We are also pleased to announce that Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold ‘06 will be our commencement speaker. Jena was a first generation, working class student from rural Colorado who graduated from Whitman with a BA in Politics and Spanish and earned her JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. As a passionate defender of democracy, she has worked in international corruption law, as a voter protection attorney, in the office of the Governor of Colorado and is now the youngest elected Secretary of State in the country.

News

  • A Commencement Like No Other

    November 20, 2020 • It was a spring semester dramatically disrupted, which led to the college's first virtual send-off for graduates. Faculty, family and friends logged on and followed along for Whitman College's 134th Commencement on May 24, 2020.

  • Whitman Class of 2020 Celebrates With Unique Commencement Ceremony

    May 24, 2020 • Members of the Class of 2020 shared messages of gratitude and excitement — and took a moment to be a little bit silly — during Whitman College’s 134th Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 24, 2020. 

  • Whitman College Welcomes Viewers to Virtual Commencement

    May 22, 2020 • The college will host its first-ever virtual graduation ceremony this Sunday, May 24, at 11 a.m. to honor more than 400 Whitman seniors. Anyone who would like to tune in and toast their success is invited to join the online event.

  • Senior Class Banner Designer Wants to Bring Benefits of Art Therapy to Others

    May 21, 2020 • Graduating senior Eliza Wyckoff was able to explore her passion for art by creating the Class of 2020 banner for Commencement.

  • Educational Designer Katie Krummeck ’03 Creates Innovative Commencement Address

    May 20, 2020 • Whitman College is creating a virtual event for its 134th Commencement Ceremony. The event will include remarks from President Kathleen Murray, Board of Trustees Chair Nancy Serrurier, class speaker Maude Lustig ’20 and Katie Krummeck '03, as well as the traditional reading of names by Provost Alzada Tipton, and short video clips and photos provided by the graduates themselves.