Newark residents should be prepared for an abundance of cars on the road, foot traffic and crowded restaurants during the University of Delaware’s graduation weekend at the end of this month.
Whether you’re gearing up to celebrate a graduate in your life in a few short weeks, or want to steer clear of the university area until the celebrations die down, here’s what you need to know about the momentous weekend:
When is the University of Delaware’s graduation?
UD’s commencement ceremony for the class of 2023 is scheduled for Saturday, May 27, at 9:30 a.m. at Delaware Stadium.
Who is able to attend the University of Delaware’s graduation ceremony?
Admission to the event requires a ticket and is only open to graduating students and up to four guests. Approximately 4,000 graduates are expected to attend, along with nearly 16,000 guests, the school said in UDaily post.
The university offers a livestream of the ceremony for those who are unable to attend in person. Information about the livestream will be shared by the school at a later date.
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Who will be the guest speaker at commencement?
Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to go to space, will be the speaker at the University of Delaware’s commencement ceremony this year, announced UD President Dennis Assanis in a UDaily post.
Jemison holds many titles given her six years as a NASA astronaut, seven years as an environmental studies professor at Dartmouth College, time spent as the Area Peace Corps Medical Officer for Sierra Leone and Liberia, and as a general practice physician in Los Angeles.
Jemison also leads 100 Year Starship (100YSS), a nonprofit created to assure the capabilities exist for human travel beyond our solar system to another star within the next 100 years. She founded The Jemison Group, Inc. (JG), a technology consulting firm that integrates critical socio-cultural issues into the design of science and engineering projects. And, in 1994, she founded the international science camp The Earth We Share (TEWS) for 12 to 16-year-old students worldwide under the nonprofit Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence (DJF).
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“We are delighted to host Dr. Jemison to deliver this year’s Commencement address to our graduates and their families and friends,” Assanis said in the UDaily post. “She is an exemplar of someone dedicated to exploring endless possibilities and infinite frontiers — always finding meaningful ways to make a difference in the world. This commitment is one we strive to instill in our graduates.”
Last year, President Joe Biden became the first sitting president to speak at a UD graduation ceremony when he visited his alma mater to give the commencement speech.
The occasion marked his fifth time speaking at UD’s commencement, and his first time doing so since 2014 when he served as vice president.
Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys’tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com.
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