Thursday, May 22, 2025
5 p.m. – Graduates Check-in
6 p.m. – Ceremony Begins
8 p.m. – Approximate End of Ceremony
Dunkin’ Stadium, 1214 Main Street, Hartford, CT
You, your family, and friends may pre-order official CT State Asnuntuck Class of 2025 T-shirts, flowers, and teddy bears for pick-up at the ceremony. Other items may also be for sale before and during the ceremony.
Students who are finishing their programs in May need to apply for graduation via the “Apply for Graduation” link in the my.ctstate.edu portal. (See more information about the graduation application process below). The May 2025 graduation application deadline for degree and credit certificate programs is April 15, 2025.
Students who plan to finish their programs during the summer term, are within 8 credits of completion, and are registered for summer classes may participate in the Commencement ceremony on May 22nd, AND must also complete their graduation applications by April 15, 2025.
CT State Asnuntuck students in non-credit certificate programs have had graduation applications mailed to their homes and must return these to the Workforce Development/ Continuing Education office by April 18, 2025.
Join us for Grad Fest on May 5-8, 2025 in the main building lobby
Take a break between classes and join us from for the following activities celebrating YOU – our CT State Asnuntuck graduates! (More info coming soon to your college email.)
Careers Table
Learn about the Handshake app and get a head shot for your LinkedIn page.
Messages of Gratitude
Write a thank you message to family, friends, faculty, etc. to be shown before the graduation ceremony on the jumbotron!
Fun Photo Booth
Grab a friend and use props to take some fun shots for your social media.
Alumni Table
Fill out a membership form to join the CT State Asnuntuck Alumni Association.
Optional Czarnecki Photography shoots
Make an appointment to have your portrait taken prior to the ceremony. You can also order a photo of you at the ceremony accepting your diploma cover. See information about making appointments and ordering photos in the blue box under the countdown clock (scroll up).
…and MORE!
CT State Asnuntuck students requiring disability accommodations for the ceremony should contact Jillian Sullivan, Campus Lead of the Office of Disability & Accessibility Services, at jillian.sullivan@ctstate.edu or at 860-253-3005 as soon as possible.
American Sign Language interpreters will be working at the ceremony.
Elevators are available in the stadium, and there are special areas for guests using wheelchairs in the grandstand. Ramps are located at Main & Trumbull Street and Pleasant Street entrances.
ADA Accessible restrooms are available.
Yes. Each graduate will receive 2 parking vouchersfor the lot at 275 Windsor Street in Hartford. Parking vouchers should be treated like cash and cannot be replaced.
The CT State Asnuntuck Commencement ceremony goes on “rain or shine.” However, in the event of severe weather, the stadium reserves the right to delay or cancel the event.
CT State Asnuntuck students who submitted their graduation applications by the April 15 deadline may pick up their cap, gown, 10 tickets, and 2 parking passes at the campus bookstore at 170 Elm Street in Enfield, CT the following days and times.
***STUDENTS MUST SHOW PHOTO ID at the Bookstore to pick up regalia & tickets!***
Week of May 5:
Week of May 12:
Week of May 19: (Last two days for pickup!)
All students who pick up their regalia in-person by 5/20/2025 will have the chance to win a CT State T-shirt and hat courtesy of Follett Bookstores!
Students who cannot pick up their regalia at the above times by 5/20/2025 can make alternative arrangements by emailing stacey.musulin@ctstate.edu or by calling 860/253-3015 no later than May 20.
Yes. Graduates must wear the official CT State cap and gown that they receive via the campus bookstore. You should wear the tassel on your cap on the right side until you are directed to move it during the ceremony.
Footware must be appropriate for walking on the baseball field. (i.e., NO spike heels!)
Clothing worn underneath regalia should be comfortable, yet reflect the solemnity of this occasion.
Sunglasses and sunscreen are recommended.
Students may decorate their caps to show their personal style. Any cap decorations should be safe and messaging positive. Graduates should refrain from décor that would significantly block the view of those seated behind them. Messaging that would detract from others’ enjoyment of this important life event is not allowed.
Only official CT State honors cords may be worn at the ceremony. These will be distributed to eligible students on the day of the ceremony at check-in.
Members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society may wear the PTK stoles they received at their induction ceremony.
Each graduate will receive 10 tickets when they pick up their cap and gown. Children 3 years of age and under may be admitted without a ticket.
At the time they receive their regalia and tickets at the Campus Bookstore, students may request up to 2 additional tickets. Additional tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
The CT State Asnuntuck Commencement Ceremony begins at 6 PM with the procession of faculty and graduates onto the field.
Graduates must arrive no later than 5 PM for check-in.
CT State Asnuntuck Graduates must arrive no later than 5 PM for check-in.
Students will check in and assemble in groups according to the program of study. Graduates then move in line to a waiting area behind center field. Faculty and graduates march onto the field promptly at 6 PM.
Please note that graduates may not bring children past the check-in area. Children must remain with a responsible adult in areas of the stadium marked for guests for the duration of the ceremony.
Stadium gates will open for guests at 5 p.m.
Tickets are required of each guest over the age of 3. Children 3 years of age and under may be admitted without a ticket.
If needed, graduates may bring small purses to the stadium and keep them on the field. You should bring sunglasses, any needed medications, and your phone (set to “silent”).
Please note that graduates may not bring children past the check-in area. Children must remain with responsible adults in areas of the stadium marked for guests for the duration of the ceremony.
Guests may bring small purses/ carrying cases and cameras to the stadium. Strollers for young children are allowed. Umbrellas are allowed as needed and should not be opened in a way to block the view of other guests.
For guests’ convenience, the Commencement Group will sell T-shirts, flowers, and other memorabilia before and during the event. (See information in the blue box at the upper right of this page.)
There is no smoking nor vaping allowed within the stadium.
Please understand that stadium staff may need to inspect all items brought into the stadium. The following items will NOT be allowed into the stadium:
Note about conduct during the ceremony:
Commencement is a celebratory occasion, during which we honor and respect the hard work of our graduates, as well as their families and friends in attendance. Any individual or group engaging in activity that interrupts or disrupts the normal progression of the ceremonies is not permitted and anyone engaging in that behavior will be asked to leave the event. Failure to leave may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the college. Disruptive behaviors and/or refusing to leave when ordered may result in police action and subsequent criminal charges.
Yes! A Ballpark concession stand will be open for CASHLESS sale of food and drinks.
Graduates of Associate Degree programs with a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.4 or higher receive a gold honor cord at check in time (5PM). Honor cords are not given for certificate programs due to the wide variance in the number of credits for those programs.
Graduates who are Veterans receive veterans honor cords at check-in.
Members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society receive honors stoles at their PTK induction ceremony.
The graduation ceremony (AKA “Commencement”) is projected on the stadium jumbotron for all in-person attendees to see. It is recorded for later uploading to the CT State Asnuntuck YouTube channel.
The ceremony begins with a processional of faculty and graduates across center field to their designated seats, A traditional tune, “Pomp and Circumstance,” is played. Graduates are seated in the infield of the stadium, facing family and friends in the stands.
After playing our National Anthem, a variety of speakers greet the graduates and other attendees. Speakers include our campus CEO, a member of the graduating class, and a faculty representative among others.
Next, three awards specific to the CT State Asnuntuck campus are given to three extraordinary members of the graduating class.
Graduates are then announced one-by-one by name and credential earned (or to-be-earned in the case of summer graduates). Each graduate walks to home plate and receives a folder with a congratulatory letter from the Campus CEO. Most students shake hands and pose for a picture as they receive this folder, but that is not required. Some students place their free hand over their heart if they cannot shake hands.
After each student is acknowledged, the Campus CEO “confers” the degrees and certificates and directs graduates to move the tassel on their cap to the left side.
At the end of the ceremony, faculty line up in center field and congratulate the graduates as they march past. Graduates then meet up with their family and friends and exit the stadium.
No. The fancy printed diploma is ordered specially after a CT State Degree Auditor confirms all the graduation requirements have been met for a program after the end of the student’s final term. CT State Asnuntuck graduates will be contacted via email by a member of the One Stop Enrollment Center once the diplomas are ready for pick-up or mailing.
Once final grades are officially posted for the end of your last semester (usually 5-7 days after the end of the term), you may order free official transcripts via the Parchment application that will show the conferral of your CT State degree/ certificate.
Students who have completed all requirements for a program and had their degree/ certificate officially conferred can expect to receive their diplomas according to the following schedule:
No, but a recording will be made and uploaded to CT State Asnuntuck’s YouTube channel within a week or so after the ceremony.
Yes! Czarnecki Photography will be available for photoshoots prior to graduation and will capture the moment you receive your diploma cover/ letter of congratulations at the ceremony. See information about making appointments and ordering photos in the blue box under the countdown clock (scroll up).
There will also be pictures taken during the ceremony and uploaded to CT State Asnuntuck’s Facebook page.
Students owing money to the college who complete all program requirements may technically be conferred their degree or certificate, but they cannot participate in the Commencement Ceremony, nor receive a printed diploma.
Technically, students do not officially graduate until all program requirements have been completed.
Students within 8 credits of completing their program, who register for those last classes in the Summer 2025 term, and who complete a Summer graduation application by the April 15th deadline may participate in the May 22 ceremony.
Summer graduates are officially conferred their degrees and certificates in August, after which they may order official transcripts showing completion. Diplomas are distributed in October.
Stacey Musulin, Campus Supervisor, Enrollment Services
AS-OneStop@ct.edu
860-253-3015
Sue Champagne, Workforce Development and Continuing Education
AS-ContinuingEducation@ctstate.edu
Magdalena Gómez, Poet Laureate of Springfield, MA (2019–2022) and an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellow (2021–2022) has been a cultural worker since 1976. Her memoir, Mi’ja, published by Heliotrope Books, NYC, received the 2024 International Latino Book Award, in the autobiography category. In 2019 she received the Latinas 50 Plus Literature Award at Fordham University and the Latinx Excellence on the Hill Award from the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus of MA at the State House. She was the Co-founder and Artistic Director of Springfield’s first intergenerational Latiné theater for leadership training, Teatro V!da and the youth open mic series, Ign!tethe M!c from 2006–2020. She also initiated and helped launch the first public LGBTQIA2S+ open mic series in Western Massachusetts at the Bing Arts Center. Ms. Gómez has been a contributor the AfAm Point of View News Magazine since 2010. Ms. Gómez is currently a Commissioner with the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women for Hampden County and a Trustee with the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.
The Commencement Ceremony for CT State Middlesex, Class of 2025, will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Welte Hall at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, Connecticut (Directions (Google) | Download Directions). Welte Hall is located on the north side of the campus on Ella Grasso Boulevard.
Graduates should report to Alumni Hall in the Student Center for lineup by 5 p.m. fully robed with Reader Card in hand. The Reader Card is used to announce and appropriately pronounce the graduate’s name. Graduates should not bring anything with them that they cannot carry with them to the ceremony. Once individuals leave the Student Center in line there will be no reentering the building to retrieve personal possessions. Doors for guests will open in Welte Hall at 5 p.m. Seating is available on a first-come first-serve basis. Individuals utilizing the services of the ASL interpreters are directed to sit on the left-hand side of the hall facing the stage. The ceremony begins at 6 p.m.
Please note that balloons are not permitted in Welte Hall.
How to Properly Wear the Cap (also known as a mortarboard):
The inside of the cap will denote which part is worn in front. The top of the hat should be worn level on the head, horizontal to the ground. Undergraduate students should wear the tassel on the right side of their face until instructed during the graduation ceremony to move it to the left side.
For more information,contact Corey Ruggieri
Caps and gowns can be picked up at the Follett Bookstore on the Middlesex campus beginning May 19, 2025. Caps and gowns do not need to be pre-ordered. There is no cost to students for caps and gowns.
Students will be given the holder for their diploma/certificate during the ceremony. Students finishing requirements for graduation in May, diplomas/certificates will be available in July. If finishing requirements during the summer diploma/certificate(s) will be available September 2025. Students will be notified when to pick up their documents through their student e-mail accounts.
Parking on the CCSU Campus for graduates and guests is in any of the visitor “red” marked parking areas (lots or garages). Please note that Welte Garage, the Student Center Lot, Student Center Garage and Kaiser Lot are the designated areas for parking located closest to Welte Hall. Additional overflow parking is available in Copernicus Garage, Bichum Lot and the Willard-DiLoreto Garage on the south side of the campus. CCSU police officers along with additional security staff will be present. Please follow their directions for parking.
Family and friends are encouraged to take pictures of their graduate. Once regalia is picked up, please consider taking pictures and sharing them with fellow graduates. Share them by utilizing the following: #CTStateMiddlesex2025 or #CTState2025. As always, if you have any questions, call the Dean’s Office.
Additionally, GradImages® will be photographing each student with the Chief Executive Officer as they receive their diploma.
Visit www.GradImages.com to view and purchase custom photo products like prints, plaques, specialty gifts, and more. If there are any questions or concerns regarding the graduate’s photos, please contact the Customer Service Department at 1-800-261-2576, online at www.gradimages.com, or email ecc.giservice@gradimages.net.
Lakisha Hyatt is a Hospital Executive, Certified Executive Coach, and dedicated Community Servant who believes effective leadership begins with a heart for service. She currently serves as CEO of Connecticut’s largest publicly funded psychiatric and addiction medicine hospital—the first woman of color to hold this role. A Licensed Minister, Lakisha also leads as Executive Director of Ministries for a 1,200+ member faith organization in Connecticut.
With a career rooted in public healthcare leadership, Lakisha blends a passion for mental, physical, and spiritual wellness with lasting community impact. She has served as adjunct professor at both Yale University and the University of Connecticut and brings grace and humor to sharing her leadership journey—making her a sought-after coach, speaker, and lecturer.
A doctoral candidate in Public Administration, Lakisha’s research focuses on sustaining healthcare professionals in state government through servant leadership. She holds a Master’s from Yale University, a Bachelor’s from the University of Connecticut, is a Certified Executive Coach through the International Coaching Federation, and a trained Mediator through Quinnipiac University.
Her contributions have earned numerous honors, including the NAACP’s Most Influential African American Award, Hartford Business Journal’s Women in Business Award, American Psychiatric Nurse of the Year for Leadership, and Sigma Theta Tau honors.
Lakisha serves on the boards of Middlesex United Way and the Middletown Chamber of Commerce. She is founder of Single Mom Soar, a nonprofit serving low-income single mothers.
A proud Rotarian and current President of the Rotary Club of Middletown, Lakisha is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, International Women’s Forum CT, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
She enjoys the ocean, journaling, fitness training, and poetry. Lakisha and her best friend and husband, David, are the proud parents of Eden Zayair (22) and Elijah Saint Patrick (17).
Barbara McClane is a best-selling author, professional photographer, Recovery Support Specialist, and Board President of the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR). With more than 20 years of experience in the mental health and addiction recovery field, she has turned her 21-year journey of long-term recovery into a life of purpose, service, and inspiration.
She is the founder of I Am Woman2, a nonprofit organization celebrating its sixth year of empowering women through storytelling and photography, and the creator of Vision.2.You, a mobile vision board company helping individuals tap into purpose through creative expression.
As the author of Blessed Not Bitter, her story has resonated across the country, and she has spoken at colleges, high schools, churches, and national conferences on topics such as recovery, resilience, emotional wellness, and self-care. Her advocacy has been especially impactful in underserved communities.
From documenting powerful moments during the Black Lives Matter movement and COVID-19 pandemic, to mentoring youth and leading social-emotional workshops, she continues to use her voice, lens, and lived experience to promote healing, justice, and empowerment.
A photographer will take your picture as you receive your diploma cover. An order form and proofs will be mailed to you by the photographer so that you can place your order directly with the studio. Guests are not permitted in the aisles to take photographs during the ceremony.
If you have any questions about the Commencement ceremony, please contact the Dean of Student Affairs Assistant at nk-deanofstudents@ctstate.edu.
Commencement is a celebratory occasion and we should respect the hard work of our graduates, as well as their families and friends in attendance. Any individual or group engaging in activity that interrupts or disrupts the normal progression of the ceremonies is not permitted and anyone engaging in that behavior will be asked to leave the event. Failure to leave may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the college. Disruptive behaviors and/or refusing to leave when ordered may result in police action and subsequent criminal charges.
At Grad Fest, you will receive your cap, gown, and your graduation packet. Graduation packets will contain your formal invitation, graduation tickets in the event of inclement weather, cords/stoles (if applicable), and important information about the ceremony procession. We do not need your gown size in advance.
Please RSVP by Friday, May 16 using the following link:
https://forms.office.com/r/9gXsfy9Zpz
Please note that Grad Fest is for graduates only.
The Commencement Ceremony for CT State Tunxis, Class of 2025, will be held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Welte Hall at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, Connecticut (Directions (Google) | Download Directions). Welte Hall is located on the north side of the campus on Ella Grasso Boulevard.
Graduates should report to Alumni Hall in the Student Center for lineup by 5 p.m. fully robed with Reader Card in hand. The Reader Card is used to announce and appropriately pronounce the graduate’s name. Graduates should not bring anything with them that they cannot carry with them to the ceremony. Once individuals leave the Student Center in line, there will be no reentering the building to retrieve personal possessions. Doors for guests will open in Welte Hall at 5:30 p.m. Seating is available on a first-come first-serve basis. Individuals utilizing the services of the ASL interpreters are directed to sit on the left-hand side of the hall facing the stage. If you need any accommodations, please contact Magaly Correa, magaly.correa@ctstate.edu. The ceremony begins at 6 p.m.
**Please note that balloons are not permitted in Welte Hall.**
The inside of the cap will denote which part is worn in front. The top of the hat should be worn level on the head, horizontal to the ground. Undergraduate students should wear the tassel on the right side of their face until instructed during the graduation ceremony to move it to the left side.
For more information on the ceremony, please contact Magaly Correa, magaly.correa@ctstate.edu
Students will be given the cover for their diploma/certificate during the ceremony. Students finishing requirements for graduation in May, diplomas/certificates will be available in July for pick-up at the One Stop. If you're finishing your requirements during the summer, diploma/certificate(s) will be available September 2025. Students will be notified when to pick up their diploma through their student e-mail accounts.
Parking on the CCSU Campus for graduates and guests is in any of the visitor “red” marked parking areas (lots or garages). Please note that Welte Garage, the Student Center Lot, Student Center Garage and Kaiser Lot are the designated areas for parking located closest to Welte Hall. Additional overflow parking is available in Copernicus Garage, Bichum Lot and the Willard-DiLoreto Garage on the south side of the campus. CCSU police officers along with additional security staff will be present. Please follow their directions for parking.
If you are a graduate with a disability who needs special accommodations, please contact Magaly Correa at 860-773-1433 or magaly.correa@ctstate.edu. Please remember to include your contact information: name, Banner ID and phone number.
Family and friends are encouraged to take pictures of their graduate. Once regalia is picked up, please consider taking pictures and sharing them with fellow graduates. Share them by utilizing the following: #CTStateTunxis2025 or #CTState2025. As always, if you have any questions, please email Magaly Correa, magaly.correa@ctstate.edu.
Additionally, Island Photography will be photographing each student with the Campus Chief Executive Officer as they receive their diploma.
If there are any questions or concerns regarding the graduate’s photos, please contact the Island Photography’s Customer Service Departmen at 1-516-767-1234, or email custserv@islandphoto.com.
