Orlando

September 20-21, 2024

Commencement Weekend in Orlando

FAQs

School of Technology
& School of Business Ceremony

Leavitt School of Health &听School of Education Ceremony

Alumni Celebration听
Friday, September 20*

Hyatt Regency Orlando - Regency Ballroom
9801 International Dr
Orlando, FL 32819

6:00-9:00 pm EDT

*Details subject to change

View more about the Alumni Celebration

Questions regarding Alumni Celebration?
Contact us at alumnievents@wgu.edu

Commencement
Saturday, September 21*

Orange County Convention Center - North Hall
9400 Universal Boulevard
Orlando, FL 32819

Leavitt School of Health & School of Education
Graduate Check-In: 8:30 am
Ceremony Time: 9:30 am

School of Business & School of Technology
Graduate Check-In: 12:30 pm
Ceremony Time: 1:30 pm

*Details subject to change.

RSVP Information

To RSVP, you must have either your Graduation Application submitted to the Student Records department or be enrolled in and only have your final course left, such as capstone or final certification, with the exception of direct hours for field experience or student teaching. If you don鈥檛 currently meet this requirement, wait to RSVP until the requirement is met.

Students who are enrolled in their final course may submit an email to听commencement@wgu.edu听with 鈥淔inal Course鈥� in subject line along with desired commencement ceremony.

For more information, review the听.

If you have any questions, please contact us at听commencement@wgu.edu听or by phone 385.428.2085.

Attention iOS users (iPhone/iPad): please use Chrome or Firefox browser to submit your ceremony RSVP form. If you use Safari (default iOS browser) to complete your RSVP form, you will receive a false application rejection message. If uncertain, please complete the ceremony RSVP form on a computer rather than your iOS device.

Orlando Commencement Deadlines:

RSVP
Deadline: Closed
Graduate Speaker Application听
Deadline: Closed
Anthem Singer Audition
Deadline: Closed
Cap & Gown Ordering听
Deadline: Closed

Orlando Commencement Details:

Commencement Guidebook
听听
Ceremony Program

Parking Details

Parking at the Orange County Convention Center is $20 plus tax per car, per visit.

锘縔ou can pay via cash or card at the parking lot tollbooth as you enter the lot.听

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Please note: If your car leaves the parking lot and you wish to return, you will be charged an additional $20 plus tax.听

Parking & Bag Policies

Information Coming Soon!

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Hotel Discounts

Information Coming Soon!

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Alumni Celebration in Chicago

Friday, September 22

Information Coming Soon!

Keynote Speaker

Information Coming Soon!

Bachelor's Ceremony Graduate Speakers

Information Coming Soon!

Master's Ceremony Graduate Speakers

Information Coming Soon!

National Anthem Singers

Information Coming Soon!

Learn More About Commencement Day

Watch this video to see what a typical in-person commencement day looks like for a graduate.

Stay Up-to-Date with Orlando Commencement!

Download the commencement app to stay up to date with all things on commencement weekend!

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Make your graduate weekend more magical with discounted tickets to Disney World parks!

Click for more details and to purchase.

Alumni Celebration in Orlando

Friday, September 20, 6:00-9:00pm ET

Kick off your commencement weekend with this exclusive alumni celebration in honor of our graduates!

All graduates attending the 2024 黑料传送门 Commencement in Orlando are invited to join us for the Alumni Celebration at Hyatt Regency, Orlando.听听

This family-friendly, come-and-go event is free to attend, and we encourage graduates and guests to dress in business attire.听听

At the celebration, you can:听

Free professional portraits: Elevate your LinkedIn profile with a free professional portraits- courtesy of 黑料传送门!
Meet with local employers for career opportunities听
Reconnect with Alumni in your area
Visit our affiliated partnership booths to receive career advice, purchase 黑料传送门 swag, pick up your 黑料传送门 Philanthropy Cord, and more听
Take photos in our social photo booth and share using #黑料传送门grad
Meet Sage the Night Owl听
Enjoy light appetizers, refreshments, and self-pay bars
Hit the dance floor or play family-friendly games with a fun 黑料传送门 twist听

Come for the networking, stay for the fun.

*Please note: 2024 Orlando graduates are allowed to bring up to five (5) total guests, and invited special alumni guests are allowed to bring up to three (3) total guests.听

Contact Information:听
黑料传送门 Alumni Celebration contact: alumnievents@wgu.edu听
黑料传送门 Alumni Celebration ADA and accessibility: alumnievents@wgu.edu听
黑料传送门 Commencement questions: commencement@wgu.edu

Parking Details听

Parking is available on-site. The discounted rate for self-parking is $15.00.听

Date:听September 20, 2024

Time:听6-9 pm, ET

Location:
Hyatt Regency Orlando - Regency Ballroom
9801 International Dr
Orlando, FL 32819

Keynote Speaker

Brandon P. Fleming
Nationally-acclaimed educator, award-winning author of MISEDUCATED, former debate coach at Harvard University, and Founder & CEO of The Veritas School

Over the past decade, Brandon P. Fleming has become one of the most highly awarded and sought-after educators, entrepreneurs, authors, and speakers in the world.听 Fleming鈥檚 miraculous story of transformation, captured in his book , has become such a national hit that it is currently being optioned for television and film, and it is in the process of becoming a major theater production.

An at-risk youth and college dropout turned award-winning educator, Fleming is a former debate coach at Harvard University and Founder & CEO of the Veritas School of Social Sciences, a prestigious private school in Atlanta, GA.

In 2017, Fleming was recruited to become Harvard University鈥檚 assistant debate coach at the age of 26.鈥� Fleming soon made history at Harvard as the founder of the first pipeline program called the Harvard Debate Council Diversity Project, which was designed to increase Black and brown enrollment at Harvard鈥檚 residential debate program where hundreds of gifted young scholars from over 25 different countries study and compete in an international academic debate competition.鈥€�

Over seven years, Fleming has raised millions of dollars to enroll more than 250 students of color into Harvard鈥檚 summer debate residency on full scholarship.鈥� But there was one challenge that Fleming faced: How would he take Black and brown youth from mostly under-resourced schools in Atlanta, who had never been exposed to the rigors of academic debate, and prepare them in just one year to compete against some of the most elite debaters from across the globe?鈥� Fleming created a transformative curriculum that is designed to level the playing field for underserved students.鈥� And it did.鈥� For seven consecutive years, since the program鈥檚 inception in 2017, every cohort trained by Fleming has won the international competition as seven-time consecutive champions. News of the achievement has gone viral and broke national headlines, being featured on CNN, Good Morning America, the Steve Harvey Show and many more. Fleming鈥檚 school has gained the financial backing of Fortune 100 companies such as The Coca-Cola Company, UPS, Chick-fil-A, and many more.鈥�

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As a renowned speaker, Fleming has keynoted for international governmental organizations such as the United Nations.鈥� Fleming has spoken at the nation鈥檚 most prestigious colleges, universities, and K-12 conferences.鈥� Fleming has also keynoted conventions for corporate executives at the nation鈥檚 largest brands such as Walmart, Bank of America, FedEx, and many more.鈥� At the age of 29, Forbes Magazine named Fleming to the Forbes 30 under 30 list.鈥� In 2020, The Root Magazine named Fleming one of the top 100 most influential African Americans in the United States.鈥� And in May 2021, North Carolina Wesleyan College bestowed upon Fleming the honorary Doctor of Humanities degree.

Leavitt School of Health & School of Education Graduate Speakers

Kyle Brewer
M.S. Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner

Kyle is a father of four who has worked as a nurse in Illinois and Iowa for over thirteen years. He spent most of his career in Pediatrics and Surgery and has worked as a travel nurse. It鈥檚 through these experiences and the hard-working caring people he met over the years as a nurse that helped shape his career and decided to return to school for his MSN.

After a decade of nursing, Kyle obtained his BSN from 黑料传送门 in October 2021. Upon hearing about 黑料传送门鈥檚 new FNP Program, he spoke with those closest to him and decided to return to 黑料传送门 to pursue an MSN and give back to his community as a provider.听

Kyle is passionate about helping others and being active in his community. He is Vice President of his local Park District and volunteers to coach football, baseball, and softball in his community. He often coaches multiple teams at a time and managed to continue this even during the rigors of his FNP program.

Kyle obtained Excellence Awards in multiple courses during his 黑料传送门 studies, including an Excellence Award in each of his three clinical rotations. He is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, graduating with these honors from 黑料传送门.听听

When he is not volunteering in his community or working, he enjoys being outdoors and spending time with his wife and kids. Of all things in his life, Kyle is most proud of the time he spends with his family.

Madelyn Hurst
B.A. Educational Studies - Special & Elementary Education

Madelyn Hurst is a Florida transplant, raised 3,000 miles away in Oregon. Her lifelong dream of working for The Walt Disney Company finally came to fruition in 2021. This dream come true took her on various journeys from the exclusive neighborhood of Golden Oak, over 25 merchandising locations across all Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts, and not one, but two stints in Walt Disney World Entertainment.

Madelyn received her Associates of Arts Degree from Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon on a full scholarship in 2021. She vowed she would not return to school unless she could graduate completely debt-free. She kept her promise and is graduating debt-free with her Bachelor鈥檚 Degree in Educational Studies - Special and Elementary Education after 171 days.

Currently, Madelyn is working as a 4th grade language arts teacher at Knights Point K-8 in Kissimmee, Florida, which just opened in August of this year. She is also a house manager for a residence in Celebration, Florida.

Madelyn has taken her free time outside of work to develop new sewing projects, learning line dances, traveling independently to locations such as Washington DC and Los Angeles, attending concerts and music festivals by the plenty, occasionally playing Fortnite, and planning her first international teaching trip for summer of 2025 to India.

School of Business & School of Technology Graduate Speakers

Laura Anderson
M.S. Management & Leadership

Single mother of two, Laura Anderson balances the responsibilities of family with a successful and impactful career. Her bachelor鈥檚 in public relations, earned in 2009, laid the foundation for her diverse professional background spanning education, nonprofit management, and business operations.

After earning her bachelor's degree, Laura built a broad skill set, gaining valuable experience in various sectors. She took a brief hiatus to focus on her family as a stay-at-home mom, allowing her to deepen her understanding of the importance of flexibility, patience, and dedication 鈥� qualities she now brings to her professional life.听

Upon reentering the workforce, Laura sought to enhance her qualifications by enrolling in the Master of Science in Leadership and Management program at 黑料传送门. After beginning her program, she quickly rose through the ranks with her employer, Sonnenberg Schools, a specialized organization dedicated to educating and supporting children with Autism, being promoted first to Director of Operations and then to Chief Operations Officer.

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In her current role, Laura leverages her background in public relations, nonprofit work, and leadership to create meaningful change within the organization. Her work at Sonnenberg Schools is driven by a deep passion for helping students and staff succeed.

In her free time, Laura loves spending time with her children, reading, listening to music and relaxing at home.

Ralene Berry
M.Ed Education Technology and Instructional Design & M.S. IT Management

Ralene F. Berry is a Technology Executive and Senior Instructional Designer with over 20 years of experience in higher education. She recently served as the Senior Director of Technology Services and Chief Technology Officer at Grace School of Theology, where she was instrumental in transforming the institution鈥檚 technology landscape. Ralene is known for her strategic vision and ability to lead cross-functional teams in implementing innovative IT solutions that enhance academic experience for students and faculty alike.听
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Ralene's educational journey is a testament to her passion for learning and growth. She holds a Master of Science in Information Technology Management and a Master of Education in Educational Technology and Instructional Design from Western Governors University. She is an active member of 黑料传送门鈥檚 Women in Technology Ambassador Mentor program. Her commitment to lifelong learning is further reflected in her pursuit of a Doctorate in Education, specializing in Instructional Design and Technology. This dedication underscores her passion for advancing the field of educational technology.听
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Beyond her professional achievements, Ralene's life is deeply rooted in her faith and family. She is an international motivational speaker, minister, author, and life coach. She is a member of her local church, where she frequently听听

volunteers her time and expertise in technology, teaching, and theology. Ralene has a daughter and two amazing grandchildren. Ralene resides in Conroe, Texas, where she is raising her teenage granddaughter. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, teaching technology to diverse audiences, and exploring the latest trends in digital learning

National Anthem Singers

Kimberlee Cabrera
M.S. Nursing Education

Kimberlee Cabrera was born to a large, very loud and loving family. In 2009, she chose to enlist in the US Army and joined the signal corps instead of going straight into college. In the army, she met her future husband Jose and in 2012, both were ordered to deploy to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Upon returning home, they were engaged and eventually married in 2016. In 2017, after 8 years of service, she was honorably discharged.听听

Her husband had a near fatal medical emergency that made Kimberlee realize that she wanted a career change and began pursuing a nursing degree. She graduated with her ASN and became a registered nurse in 2019. She graduated with her BSN in 2020. After a few years, she decided that she wanted to make a difference by teaching future nurses and decided to go back to school for her master's in nursing education. In 2022, she started her journey with 黑料传送门, finishing the program a year later. She currently works full time in trauma surgery and part time as a clinical instructor for 黑料传送门.听

Kimberlee currently resides in Florida with her husband, two sons, and two border collies. Outside of nursing, she loves to go league bowling, crochet, sing, and run races ranging from 5Ks to half marathons.

Paige Olson-Cramer
M.S. HR Management

Paige grew up with an appreciation for beautiful music and accomplished musicians and has a passion for singing. Her husband, father, brother, grandmother, and niece all share a love for singing, learning instruments, and experiencing music of all genres. Paige earned her Bachelor's Degree in Education for Vocal Music and taught for nine years as an elementary music teacher - it was a blast!听

After feeling an itch to change careers, Paige took the leap and moved in a completely different direction: business. She has earned two Master's Degrees in 黑料传送门's School of Business: a Master of Science in Management and Leadership, and a Master of Science in Human Resource Management. There is so much to learn and she is excited to take on new challenges.听听

Since leaving the public education system, she has worked for North Dakota's Department of Health and Human Services and continues to learn about the world of Social Services.

Paige and her husband, Cory, live in a small town in North Dakota with their three mischievous dogs: Pickles, Feeny, and Sassy.听听

Paige is very thankful for all of the support she has received from her family, friends, and program mentors at 黑料传送门. It's been a great experience and she's hoping to continue to grow in her education and skills - the sky is the limit!

Frequently Asked Questions

Ceremony FAQs

A commencement guidebook with check in details, parking, maps, and more will be loaded onto the and emailed to each graduate two weeks prior to the ceremony.听

Graduates are recommended to bring up to 8 guests, but tickets are not required to enter the commencement ceremony. Please feel free to bring additional guests. Graduates do not need to update their initial guest count with the Commencement Office. 听

Tickets are not required for 黑料传送门 commencement weekend events. 听

The names of graduates who physically attend an in-person commencement will be read as they cross the stage. All Virtual Commencement paricipants' names wil be read.听

Policies vary by location and venue. Please consult the听commencement app or commencement guidebook for further details two weeks prior to the ceremony date. 听

Please arrive dressed in your cap and gown for the commencement ceremony. Due to the number of graduates and schedule, it is not practical to change into regalia at the venue.

You can watch the commencement ceremony at the at any point after the start of the ceremony.

The commencement photos are usually available 2-3 weeks after commencement. Those photos will be available for viewing at听

Did you know that 黑料传送门 Alumni have access to hundreds of discounts? Log in to听听to search for deals on flights, hotels, car rentals, and more.

Ceremony Participation & RSVP听FAQs

There is not a time limit on when a graduate may walk in a commencement. Graduates may only participate in one commencement ceremony per degree program completed.

Tickets are not required for commencement weekend events.听听

Generally, the commencement ceremony lasts 2 hours.

Yes, it is possible for a commencement ceremony to reach capacity. We suggest that you submit an RSVP to your desired ceremony as soon as you are eligible.

Please review the located in the student handbook, which outlines the eligibility for commencements. If you have additional questions, you can contact the Commencement Office at commencement@wgu.edu

Graduates who wish to participate in an in-person or virtual commencement ceremony must complete two steps.听

Submit either your Graduation Application or be enrolled in and only have your final course remaining, such as capstone or final certification, with the exception of direct hours for field experience or student teaching.听

a. Students who are enrolled in their final course may submit an email to commencement@wgu.edu with "Final Course" in the subject line along with desired commencement ceremony.听
Once the Graduation Application is submitted or final course exception is approved, submit an RSVP via the commencement web site (available at wgu.edu/commencement).听听

If you don't currently meet either of these requirements, wait to RSVP until one of the requirements is met.听

No, the graduation application process is separate from submitting a RSVP to a commencement weekend. If the Commencement Office has granted a final course exemption, you do not have to have your graduation application submitted to walk at commencement.听

Yes, the鈥痗eremony RSVP form鈥痠s a separate process from the graduation application. The completion of the ceremony RSVP form reserves your seat at commencement and generates your name card for the announcer.鈥�

After a graduate submits the ceremony RSVP form, a confirmation email is sent to the email address listed on the completed RSVP form. Please check your junk inbox. If you do not see a confirmation email for your ceremony RSVP. Please contact us at commencement@wgu.edu with additional questions.

No. Once registration has closed, no late additions, including day of (walk-up) will be permitted.

Graduates may walk in one commencement ceremony per degree. As of January 2022, a graduate may participate in one ceremony per degree, either a virtual or in-person ceremony.

A Grad Pass is a digital QR code issued to each graduate registered for an in-person ceremony the week of commencement. It contains the information that will be displayed on the screen as your name is read and you cross the stage. Graduates will need their phone with them at graduate check-in and as they cross the stage.听

Regalia听FAQs

鈥痠s the official regalia vendor (caps, gowns, and hoods) for 黑料传送门. You can place your order via the website or call 1-800-456-7623 and ask for the Web Department. The official regalia color for graduates is navy.鈥� For visual reference, please see our鈥€痑nd our鈥�.鈥�

For bachelor鈥檚 degree, post-baccalaureate teacher programs, or endorsement preparation program (English Language Learning), you should鈥痮rder a鈥痗ap, bachelor's gown, and tassel. For鈥痶hose earning a master's degree or endorsement preparation program (Educational Leadership), you should鈥痮rder a鈥痗ap, master's gown, tassel, and a master's hood.

The following master鈥檚 hoods are available for purchase at the :

Education - blue听
Business (all MBAs) - drab听
Information Technology - gold听
Nursing 鈥� apricot听
Integrated Healthcare Management - salmon听
Master of Health Leadership - sage green

You can order a tassel at the , or by calling 1-800-456-7623 and ask for the Web Department.

Yes, 黑料传送门 graduates affiliated with an honor society may wear society pins or honor cords/sashes on their gowns. Teacher graduates affiliated with the 黑料传送门 chapter of the international honor society of Kappa Delta Pi (KDP) may order honor cords at .听听听听

Prior to the conferral of degrees, bachelor's degree graduates wear the tassel on the right while master's degree graduates wear their tassel on the left for the entire commencement ceremony.

A graduate should wear academic attire appropriate to the awarded degree. The master's gown differs from a bachelor's gown. If you already have a cap and tassel, you can order a master's gown as an individual item on the . Please note that the academic attire for a master's graduate includes a cap, tassel, master's gown, and hood.

黑料传送门 graduates who are veterans or active-duty military will be provided with a military honor cord. For virtual commencements, cords will be shipped to the address provided on their RSVP. For in-person commencements, cords will be picked up at the Alumni Celebration or at Commencement during graduate check-in. On your RSVP form, please mark that you are a veteran or on active duty.

Graduates are permitted to decorate their caps and wear sashes with their regalia. Take into consideration the following if decorating your cap or wearing a sash for commencement:听

黑料传送门 does not allow content on caps or sashes that is considered, in 黑料传送门鈥檚 sole discretion, obscene, vulgar, defamatory, hateful, inappropriate, profane or that might disregard another鈥檚 copyright or third-party rights. All decorations must lie flat on the cap.听

Philanthropy Cords FAQs

The Philanthropy Cord is a blue and gold cord that 黑料传送门 graduates often wear with their cap and gown at commencement. The Philanthropy Cord is not only a physical symbol of a graduate鈥檚 commitment to 黑料传送门, but also more importantly supports a philanthropic legacy that will last for future generations of 黑料传送门 students.

Graduates can receive a Philanthropy Cord by making a gift of $25 or more to 黑料传送门鈥檚 Fellow Night Owl Scholarship, a fund established to help current 黑料传送门 students facing financial hardship cross the finish line to graduation. To donate, graduates can text 鈥満诹洗兔臗ord鈥� to 41-444 or .

All 黑料传送门 Philanthropy Cord donations support 黑料传送门鈥檚 Fellow Night Owl Scholarship, a fund established to help current 黑料传送门 students facing financial hardship cross the finish line to graduation

For in-person commencements, you may choose to have your Philanthropy Cord mailed to you or picked up at Commencement by visiting the 黑料传送门 Advancement table at the Alumni Celebration or during graduate check-in before Commencement.听

For virtual commencements, Philanthropy Cords will be mailed prior to the ceremony date.听听

黑料传送门 Advancement is the official fundraising arm at 黑料传送门 dedicated to attracting, allocating, and putting dollars to work so more students have access to an affordable, quality education. 黑料传送门 Advancement鈥檚 operation is the next step in 黑料传送门鈥檚 ever-growing obsession with students鈥� success, and a way for the increasing number of 黑料传送门 graduates, donors, and partners to pay it forward.听

Thank you for your generous support! You can donate to the Fellow Night Owl Scholarship by texting 鈥満诹洗兔臛rad鈥� to 41-444 or by

Letter of Invitation for Abroad & Commencement Announcements FAQs

Yes, students may send an email to records@wgu.edu with the family member's full name, relationship to the student, and foreign address. Once provided, the Records Department will prepare documents containing information about the commencement and student's earned degree. These prepared letters will then be sent to the student to forward them to the correct parties. It may take 5-10 business days for the letters to be mailed to the student.