Before Ohio University graduates can pack up and reflect on their time as a Bobcat, preparations must be made to ensure their graduation is enjoyable and stress-free.
Graduation prep started in February, with students applying for the 2026 spring commencement ceremony. A $50 fee is required before any diploma can be sent, according to OU.
As students receive their cap and gowns in the mail and finish up their last assignments, graduation is quickly approaching.
Having friends and family at the ceremony is a must for many, for support and to celebrate the graduate’s accomplishments and hard work. Friday’s commencement at 9:30 a.m. celebrates the graduate students earning doctoral and masters' degrees.
Saturday’s commencement is split into two ceremonies, with the first at 9 a.m. for students in the College of Business, College of Arts and Science, University College and Honors Tutorial College. The second ceremony is at 2:30 p.m. for the College of Health Sciences and Professions, College of Engineering and Technology, College of Communication, College of Fine Arts and College of Education.
All ceremonies are un-ticketed and students can invite unlimited guests.
Alyssa Kaiser, a senior studying English pre-law and sociology criminology, is preparing to walk the stage.
Kaiser said her biggest graduation preparation was creating a plan for her family to come and see her walk the stage and they booked a hotel room to stay overnight months ago.
Kaiser said she is checking all of her cords and making sure she has everything she needs for the big day.
“First of all, we all had to go shoe shopping, get the right shoes, and really prep for walking across the stage there,” Kaiser said. “Get our grad dresses ready, order the regalia of course.”
Kaiser said she was nervous about applying for graduation and meeting the deadline, so she did it as soon as it was made available.
The emotional factor of graduation is now something people are experiencing as they realize how close they are to leaving their friends and found family in Athens.
Shrinidhi Vaideeswaran is from Georgia and has been “mentally preparing” herself to leave Athens.
For the graduation ceremony, Vaideeswaran’s family is staying in Columbus overnight and driving to Athens early in the morning to snag a seat.
“I’m going back to Georgia, just kind of making sure all of my eggs are in line and making sure … I say goodbye to everyone that I want to see and really make sure that I have a final time that I see them,” Vaideeswaran said.
Finding the perfect dress is an important step for many OU seniors, and some students took months to shop online. Audrey Phipps, a senior studying musical theater, tried on dresses and returned them before finally finding what she was searching for.
Now with her dress, Phipps is working on visiting some businesses in Athens and writing farewell letters to her professors.
“(I’m) making sure everybody knows how grateful I am for the four years I've had here and seeing everything I want to see in Athens before I go,” Phibbs said. “I need to make sure I get into Thai food again, and Donkey Coffee and my favorite thing, making sure I'm ready to say goodbye to Athens.”
Kaiser, Vaideeswaran and Phipps, all of whom live together, said they have plans to host a “apartment funeral.” The three friends, plus another roommate, will perform eulogies, drink wine and listen to a playlist.
For the roommates, the most important aspect in their final weeks on campus is spending time with one another. After living together for a few years, moving on requires “emotional preparation.”
All ceremonies are two hours long and held in the Convocation Center.
