Commencement
Congratulations, Class of 2024!
We are excited to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2024 at 1 p.m., Saturday, May 4, 2024, on the Campus Quadrangle in front of Kresge Gymnasium.
In the case of rain, the start time may be adjusted to keep the ceremony outdoors and open to the public. In the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved indoors inside Goodrich Chapel — this decision will be announced via email, and on the Albion College website and social media.
Questions? Please email commencement@albion.edu.
Retired President Mauri Ditzler to serve as Albion’s 2024 Commencement Speaker
Ditzler served as president of Albion College from 2014 to 2020. His return to Albion’s campus during Spring Commencement is bittersweet as the COVID-19 pandemic kept him from presiding over his final Commencement in May 2020 as president.
2024 Senior Class Commencement Speakers
The following seniors have been selected to provide remarks during the Commencement Ceremony. The following seniors exemplify academic and co-curricular excellence and are among the many leaders on campus. From L to R, Sheridan Leinbach ’24, Lansing, MI; Rodney Mitchell ’24, Saginaw, MI; Aminaa Injinash ’24, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; and Lauren “Lolo” Reed ’24, Saginaw, MI.
About the Senior Class Speakers
Sheridan Leinbach '24
Rodney Mitchell '24
Aminaa Injinash ‘24
Lauren “LoLo” Reed ‘24
Sheridan Leinbach ‘24
Sheridan Leinbach ‘24 is a political science and history double major from Lansing, Michigan. She has served as president of Student Senate for the last two years and president of College Democrats for two years. She is actively involved in the Prentiss M. Brown Honors Program and the Gerald R. Ford Institute for Leadership in Public Policy and Service. She is a member of several on-campus organizations, including Kappa Delta, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Students for Reproductive Justice, Diversability, Pi Sigma Alpha, Phi Alpha Delta, and was recently inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. She also works as an assistant in the Office of Admission. Sheridan will be attending American University in the fall, pursuing a Master’s degree in public policy.
Rodney Mitchell ‘24
Rodney Mitchell ‘24 is a psychology major with a concentration in neuroscience and a minor in biology from Saginaw, Michigan. His leadership on campus includes serving as chair of engagements for Student Senate and chair of the Senior Class Gift fundraising initiative. Rodney is an active member of the men’s varsity basketball team, Prentiss M. Brown Honors Program and Lisa and James Wilson Institute for Medicine. He is a member of Psi Chi honor society, Student Volunteer Bureau, and Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. He is also an Albion College Community Collaborative (AC3) fellow. For the past two years, he has worked in the Office of Institutional Advancement. After graduation, Rodney plans to attend the University of Michigan Medical School as a post-baccalaureate student in preparation for medical school. He will also serve on the Board of Trustees as a Recent Graduate Trustee.
Aminaa Injinash ‘24
Amina Injinash ‘24, is a self-designed mathematics / economics major and data analytics minor, graduating with honors from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. She is actively involved in the Prentiss M. Brown Honors Program, is a Foundation for Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity (FURSCA) Ambassador, and recipient of the Vernon and Gladys B. Lawson Endowed Research Fellowship. She was selected to present her research at the Midwest Economic Association’s Annual Conference twice during her time at Albion. Aminaa has worked on campus as a tour guide, peer tutor for mathematics and economics, and client service assistant and student supervisor at the circulation desk in Stockwell Library. She has also taken on leadership roles, including as director of funds and director of new members for Delta Gamma Sorority. Her campus memberships include the Asian Cultural Engagement group, Omicron Delta Epsilon Economics honors society, Student Volunteer Bureau, International Student Union, and the Albion College Dance Team. She is also an Albion College Community Collaborative (AC3) fellow. After graduation, Aminaa will be working as a Data Analyst on the Client Success Team at Revela, a property management software company. She has plans to also pursue a Master’s degree in data analytics at the University of Michigan, Drexel University, or Columbia University.
Lauren “LoLo” Reed ‘24
Lauren (LoLo) Reed ‘24 is a biology major from Saginaw, Michigan. Lolo conducted electrochemical research alongside Dr. Metz in the summer of 2021, sponsored by the Lisa and James Wilson Institute for Medicine and served as a teaching assistant for organic chemistry during the 2022-2023 academic year. She is actively involved in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., serving in a variety of roles such as vice president, treasurer, chaplain and historian. She is also a member of the Black Student Alliance and EMS Club. Lolo participated all four years on the Women’s Basketball team, serving as captain in her final season. During her time on the squad, Lolo earned First Team All-Conference in 2022-2023, Second Team All-Conference during the 2023-2024 season, and was the Albion College Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) “Breakthrough Athlete of the Year” for the 2021-2022 academic year. After graduation, Lolo plans to travel to Africa over the summer as a medical volunteer in Kenya and Tanzania. Upon returning, she will be taking the MCAT in preparation for applying to a HBCU medical school.
Important Dates
Wednesday, April 24
Day of Woden
Join us on the quad Wednesday, April 24 for a day of fun in the sun celebrating Albion’s annual Day of Woden! The quad will be bustling from 4-8 p.m. with carnival rides, concession stands, caricature drawings, and so much more. A free picnic dinner will be provided to all students, faculty, and staff! Let’s end this semester strong, and come together as a community before finals begin and the class of 2024 commences.
Friday, May 3
Commencement Rehearsal, Stroll and Champagne Toast
- 2:30-3:30 p.m. — Commencement Rehearsal (Goodrich Chapel)
- 3:30-4:30 p.m. — Senior Stroll through Quad with President Webster and Champagne Toast (Science Complex Atrium)
- 4:30-5:30 p.m.- Paint the Rock with Senior Class Gift Committee
Multicultural Graduation Ceremonies
- 5 p.m. — Lavender, LGBTQ+ Student Graduation Ceremony (Upper Baldwin)
- 7 p.m. — La Cosecha, LatinX Student Graduation Ceremony (Upper Baldwin)
- 8 p.m. — Kente, Black Student Graduation Ceremony (Upper Baldwin)
To participate in Multicultural Celebrations, please contact the office of Campus Life (campuslife@albion.edu).
Saturday, May 4
Commencement Day!
- 10-10:45 a.m. — Interfaith Baccalaureate Ceremony (Goodrich Chapel)
- 1-3:30 p.m. — Commencement Ceremony (Outside on the College Quadrangle, in front of Kresge Gymnasium)
- 12 p.m. — Graduate lineup (Outside Goodrich Hall)
- 12:30 p.m. — Faculty and Platform Party lineup (Outside Goodrich Hall)
Brunch will be available in the Lower Baldwin café from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Commencement Livestream
Frequently Asked Questions
Ceremony
When is Commencement?
Commencement is on Saturday, May 4. Line up is at noon, and the processional begins at 12:45 p.m. All guests must be in their seats by 12:30 p.m. The ceremony begins at 1 p.m. and lasts approximately two hours.
Will there be a live webcast for family members who are unable to attend?
Yes. The ceremony will be live streamed at albion.edu/commencement so your friends and family who are unable to attend in person can watch the ceremony live.
Caps and Gowns
Caps and gowns must be warn by all participating graduates. Caps and gowns are available for purchase in the Albion College Bookstore. The Bookstore is unable to offer online purchasing.
Pricing:
- Cap and gown packages are $69.50 (This package includes a black tassel)
- Cap $10
- Tassel (Purple and Gold) $7
Graduating Seniors
Do I need to register to graduate?
Yes, you must register for graduation with the Registrar’s Office.
Is there practice for Commencement?
Yes, mandatory Commencement rehearsal will take place at Goodrich Chapel on Friday, May 3 at 2:30 p.m. During this rehearsal, we will walk through everything you need to know for the next day, hand out honors cords, and conduct a brief survey about your time at Albion. Immediately following rehearsal, you are welcome to join President Webster and fellow classmates for a final stroll through campus which will end at the Science Complex Atrium for a celebratory champagne toast.
Where do I get honor cords?
You will receive honor cords at Commencement Rehearsal. Only Albion academic honor cords will be passed out at graduation practice. Departmental or academic organization honor cords or pins will be handled by each dept. or org.
How long do I have to move my stuff out of my room?
You have until 6 p.m. the day of Commencement to move out of your room, though it is recommended that you have 90% of your belongings packed before the ceremony. It will make your life a lot easier.
Guests, Tickets and Seating
Where can my family park?
Your family can park wherever they can find a spot on Saturday. Campus Safety will not ticket during the ceremony. Remember, all city parking guidelines must be followed.
Is there a procedure in place for inclement weather?
In the case of inclement weather, Commencement will take place in Goodrich Chapel. Lineup for graduating seniors will occur in the Methodist Church next door promptly at 12 p.m. We will communicate any change in location via email, and on the College’s website and social media accounts.
Do guests need tickets to attend the ceremony?
Seating is unlimited, if held outdoors on the Campus Quadrangle, and tickets are NOT required.
If the ceremony is held indoors (Goodrich Chapel) due to inclement weather, tickets will not be required for family members and supporters but please know that space is limited.
Access and Accessibility
What is the best way for people with disabilities and those with physical limitations to access the Quadrangle for the commencement ceremony?
Individuals needing assistance should park in the lots on Cass and Oswego Streets immediately behind the library or in the lot behind Ferguson Hall. See the map for details. Albion staff will be providing rides on golf carts from these lots.
Is there an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter?
Yes. An American Sign Language interpreter will be in attendance and easily viewable for those attending in person and virtually.
Are there sufficient restrooms?
Yes, restrooms are available on all floors of Olin Hall, Kellogg Center, Ferguson Hall, and the Stockwell-Mudd Libraries. All restrooms are accessible.
Are chairs provided for seating in the Quad?
Yes, seating will be available for guests including those needing ADA accommodations. Please feel free to bring your own blanket or chairs to enjoy the ceremony from the lawn.
Senior Class Gift
The Senior Class Gift is a long-standing Albion College tradition that began in the late-1800s. The graduating class members choose a project that exemplifies their experiences as students and through which they want to impact the College.
Albion College Graduate Yard Signs
Yard Signs
“Proud of our Albion College Graduate” yard signs are available for purchase and pick-up on the day of Commencement outside of Mudd Library, while supplies last. Pre-order via the online order form or purchase on-site while supplies last. Proceeds benefit the 2024 Senior Class Gift: Career Closet.
Graduate Photos
Professional photography will be provided by Graduation Foto of graduates as they leave the stage with their diploma. Use this link to ensure you receive your photo proofs from the ceremony. Proofs will be sent out within 96 hours.
Planning Your Visit
Our bustling main street boasts restaurants, shops and a hotel just minutes from campus.
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