Commencement

NHS graduates in the Class of 2022

Undergraduate students graduate with a bachelor’s degree in nursing; graduate students earn master’s and doctoral degrees in nursing.

2026 Schedule

Note: Schedule subject to change

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

3:30 p.m. Multicultural Ceremony for Graduate Students, Gaston Hall
5:00 p.m. Multicultural Family Reception for Graduate Students, Dahlgren Quadrangle

Thursday, May 14, 2026

9:00 a.m. Berkley School of Nursing Pinning Ceremony, Lohrfink Auditorium, Hariri Building

11:30 a.m. Berkley School of Nursing Blessing of the Hands Ceremony (NM/WHNP & WHNP Programs), Lohrfink Auditorium, Hariri Building

12:00 p.m.* Senior Convocation, Healy Lawn (Severe weather site: McDonough Arena)

2:30 p.m. Berkley School of Nursing Tropaia, Lorhfink Auditorium, Hariri Building

4:45 p.m. Multicultural Family Reception, Healey Family Student Center

5:00 p.m. Phi Beta Kappa Annual Initiation, Gaston Hall

6:00 p.m. Phi Beta Kappa Reception, ICC Galleria

6:00 p.m. Asian Heritage Ceremony, Healey Family Student Center

7:15 p.m. Harambee Ceremony (African-American Heritage Ceremony), Healey Family Student Center

8:30 p.m. Despedida Ceremony (Latinx Heritage Ceremony), Healey Family Student Center

Friday, May 15, 2026

7:30 a.m. Army ROTC Commissioning Ceremony, Gaston Hall

9:00 a.m. Army ROTC Pinning Ceremony & Reception, Great Room, Healey Family Student Center

9:00 a.m. Berkley School of Nursing Sigma Theta Tau Ceremony, Lohrfink Auditorium, Hariri Building

10:00 a.m. Social Justice Send-Off Ceremony, Social Room, Healey Family Student Center

11:00 a.m. Social Justice Send-Off Reception, Poulton Hall Courtyard (Rain site: Suite 130, Poulton)

12:00 p.m.* Berkley School of Nursing Commencement (Undergraduate and Graduate degrees, and DNP/DNAP hooding will occur), Healy Lawn (Severe Weather Site: McDonough Arena)

1:30 p.m. Berkley School of Nursing Reception, Leavey Center Esplanade

9:00 p.m. Senior Ball, Location TBA

Sunday, May 17, 2026

9:00 a.m.* Baccalaureate Mass, Healy Lawn (Severe Weather Site: McDonough Arena)

10:00 a.m. Commencement Continental Breakfast, Great Room, Healey Family Student
Center

* Academic processions for all Commencement ceremonies begin approximately 30 minutes before the posted ceremony time. Guests should be seated before the procession begins.

BSON Commencement FAQ

The following section contains information that pertains solely to the School of Nursing Commencement Exercises. For additional information, please visit the Georgetown University Commencement FAQ page.

All regalia should be purchased from the Georgetown University Bookstore. Please select your correct Gown size by finding your height listed in the options. (For example, 5’4″ will be listed as: 504-506). Please be aware that selections listed as *1 or *2 are plus sizes. If you are looking for plus size Gowns, *1 fits most however if you have questions please contact Penny Green at pgreen@bncollege.com for sizing assistance.

If you are not looking for plus size Gowns, please make selections without *1 or *2 listed.

The following student groups should order what is listed below:

To purchase Fine Regalia for doctoral programs, please visit the Jostens website.

Tickets are not required for students or their guests for any BSON Commencement Week events this year, even in the event of severe weather.

Graduating students and their families are invited to attend Tropaia, the BSON Awards Ceremony. Students do not wear academic regalia to this event or process into the auditorium. Attire for the Ceremony is business casual. Tickets are not required.

“Tropaia” is the plural of an ancient Greek word that refers to a monument celebrating a military victory. The word in the context of our Tropaia Exercises means “trophies” or “awards.” This is the main BSON awards/recognition ceremony, at which the Deans and Faculty mark the accomplishments of members of the senior class. Faculty select outstanding seniors to receive a variety of BSON awards and recognitions, some big, some small. Additionally, a member of the graduating class will be nominated by their peers and selected by Faculty to give a Commencement Address to be delivered at Tropaia.

10:35 – 10:45 a.m. – Graduating students will need to report for line-up
11:30 a.m. – All guests should be seated
11:40 a.m. – Processional begins
12:00 p.m. – BSON Commencement Ceremony begins
1:25 p.m. – BSON Commencement Ceremony concludes
1:30 – 3:00 p.m. – BSON Reception

All Undergraduate, Master’s, and Doctorate Berkley School of Nursing students graduating with a degree are invited to the Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 15.

Berkley School of Nursing students graduating with a certificate are invited to the Tropaia Ceremony on Thursday, May 14.

Your Program Director or Coordinator will reach out to you if you should attend additional ceremonies.

Please contact SONCommencement@georgetown.edu with any questions about Commencement.