Northwest celebrating graduates during May 6 commencement ceremony at Bearcat Stadium

Northwest Missouri State University will celebrate the achievements of its most recent graduating students during its spring commencement ceremony Saturday, May 6.

Northwest will host a single ceremony, beginning at 10 a.m. in Bearcat Stadium on the University campus. To accommodate guests who cannot attend, Northwest also offers a live online stream of each ceremony at www.nwmissouri.edu/live.   

After the ceremony, the University will host Northwest Grad Fest at the Raymond J. Courter College Park Pavilion. There, graduates and their guests are invited to enjoy food, drinks and music from noon to 3 p.m.

“Commencement is a testament to grit and determination, and we are proud to celebrate our graduates and their loved ones for their hard work,” Northwest Interim President Dr. Clarence Green said. “Our graduates have experienced monumental change from learning modalities to civility. They are ready to solve the problems of today while having the knowledge, skills and abilities for the problems of tomorrow.”

Northwest last offered a commencement ceremony at Bearcat Stadium for spring and summer graduates in 2020. (Photo by Todd Weddle/Northwest Missouri State University)

More than 1,600 students are expected to complete degrees at the University this spring and summer, with about 760 earning bachelor’s degrees, about 730 receiving master’s degrees and more than 180 earning education specialist degrees. Elementary education and business management are the most common bachelor’s degrees among graduates, while education leadership in K-12 and applied computer science are the most common master’s degrees.

Graduates participating in the commencement ceremony may pick up caps and gowns Monday, May 1, through Thursday, May 4, on the Northwest campus or one hour prior to the ceremony in the Student Rec Center. Approved graduates who have reserved their seat at the spring commencement ceremony and ordered their cap and gown will receive information about cap and gown pickup and guest attendance as well as ceremony instructions via email from commencement@nwmissouri.edu.

Northwest also encourages graduates, families and friends to interact with Northwest social media before, during and after the commencement ceremony by using the hashtag #NWGrad.

For more details about commencement ceremonies at Northwest, visit www.nwmissouri.edu/graduation/.