Leeward CC School Colors
See information below for our current campus colors:
Official colors per UH Graphics Standards: PMS 279 (blue) and black
Acceptable colors to pair with PMS 279: gray, silver, white, tan/beige
If you have any questions, or need further assistance regarding the Leeward CC brand, please email our Marketing Office at leeward2@hawaii.edu.
General Information and Dress Code
RSVP SITE will be live on April 1, 2024 and Graduates will be listed starting May 6, 2024.
- You must stay for the entire ceremony
- No personal items. You will not be allowed to carry personal items (ie. purses, bags, folders, signs, etc.) with you during the ceremony. There is no storage place for your personal items. Please give them to your family or friends before the ceremony.
- Please inform your family and friends that they cannot hang banners from the railings.
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The Learning Commons elevators will be closed during the processional and recessional between approximately 4:50pm – 5:20pm and 6:55pm – 7:10pm. Please plan accordingly.
Dress Code
- Casual/business attire
- Black cap and gown
- Please note that if you do not have your cap and gown on the day of the ceremony, you will need to purchase it with the Bookstore. They will close at 5pm on the evening of the ceremony, otherwise you will not be able to participate in the Ceremony.
- Black caps cannot be decorated
- No head lei or lei can be worn during the ceremony
- High heel height: Maximum of 3 inches
- Footwear is required
- Only approved regalia may be worn
*Financial obligations do not prevent students from submitting their Application for Graduation or from participating in the Ceremony. If the financial obligations are not cleared once diplomas come in, then Admissions and Records will not release the diploma until the obligation is cleared.
Before the Ceremony
Cap and gown: $54.95
Tassel only: $8.95
Cap only: $15.95
A limited number of 2023 tassels are available upon request.
Cap and gown must be purchased at the Leeward CC Bookstore, available starting April 1st.
Bookstore hours: Monday-Thursday, 9am – 3pm and Friday, 9am-12pm. See bookstore website for holiday and additional closures.
Online orders can be placed for pickup and can schedule a non-store hour pickup appointment. Further information will be sent via email once the online order has been processed.
Bookstore extended hours: May 10 until 5 pm.
Shipping rate within Hawaii is $10.50 for the first item and $1.00 for every additional item
Only approved hoods, stoles, and tassels are allowed at the Ceremony. Please see the approved regalia.
Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa tassels, stoles and cords: Contact Phi Theta Kappa Advisor
Michael Bauer at mbauer@hawaii.edu
Honors Program
Hoods sold at the Bookstore: $21.25
Honors Program hoods are only available to students accepted into the Leeward CC Honors Program.
Michael Oishi: mtoishi@hawaii.edu
Phi Beta Lambda
Phi Beta Lambda cords please contact Rien Vidad: rien@hawaii.edu
Veterans
To verify approval of the Military & Veterans Grad cords contact LeeAnne Egan: leeanne@hawaii.edu
You will need to provide appropriate military documentation (DD-214, Military ID, Veterans ID, etc…) to be able to receive approval of a free Veterans cord. The cords are only available to be worn by the Veteran or Active Duty Service member at this time.
Audience Seating
Audience seating is on a first-come first-served basis. Recommended arrival time is between 4:00-pm-4:30pm. THIS IS A NON TICKETED CEREMONY. There are 1100 seats available.
You may request special accommodations for guests who require reserved seating.
Family Meeting Area after the Ceremony
Graduates will be the first to exit the ceremony area and the guests will be asked to stay seated until all graduates are out of the area. You will meet with your families according to the following:
- Last names A-L: Meet in Lion Courtyard
- Last names M-Z: Meet in Theater Courtyard
Subject to change
You will be exiting once the Parade Marshals direct you towards the ʻEwa side of the stage. The Diamond Head side of your rows will be blocked off. This makes it easier for you to separate into your respective courtyards to meet your families/friends.
Accessible Shuttle Service
There are only three seats on the golf cart so your family member may need to wait for the shuttles. Shuttles are only for the elderly and physically challenged. To use the shuttle service please complete the liability form and bring it to the ceremony. Please view the shuttle map.
Other
- If you are late (arrive after 5:15pm) please see THE STAFF by the Learning Commons first floor elevator and they will escort you. If you are late you will not be placed with your program and instead you will be seated at the very end of the line.
- Please drive with aloha. To assist with safe driving HPD will be directing traffic on the roads and Leeward Security will be directing traffic in the parking lot
- There is NO rehearsal, Staff will be sharing this information with you when they line you up before the Ceremony.
- Commencement Ceremony Programs will be given to you as you line up
- Your tassels should be placed on the RIGHT and will move to the LEFT at the closing of the ceremony
- Share the pride: #LeewardGrad24
- You do NOT receive your diplomas at the Commencement Ceremony. You will receive your diploma/certificates in the mail in 6-8 weeks from the close of grades.
Day of Ceremony
Please plan your transportation ahead of time. Traffic, construction, weather, and other conditions may cause delays.
Please arrive by 4:00pm and check in at the bottom of the round staircase in front of the Learning Commons (you will check in according to LAST name and you will receive a card that indicates your phonetic spelling and program).
If you are late (arrive after 5:15pm) please see a staff member by the Learning Commons first floor elevator and they will escort you. If you are late you will not be placed with your program and instead you will be seated at the very end of the line.
Commencement staff will help you line up (at your respective sign by the rock wall on the lower level) by the program/major/community you choose to represent, as listed below:
Ke Ala ‘Ike Scholars, Liberal Arts, Accounting, Automotive Technology, Business Technology, Culinary Arts, Digital Media, Hawaiian Studies, Health Information Technology, Information and Computer Science, Integrated Industrial Technology, Management, Natural Science, Substance Use Disorders Counseling, Sustainable Agriculture, Teacher Education, and Leeward CC Wai‘anae Moku
Announcer Cards
Your announcer cards that you will pick up at check-in will include information from the RSVP site in the following order and will be announced when you walk across the stage:
- Full Name (Phonetic Spelling if you indicated one or your preferred name)
- Program/Major
- QR Code for easy access to photos from Picture Man of Hawai‘i
Our staff may ask you to phonetically spell your name, upon check-in, if your name could be hard to pronounce.
You will hold this card throughout the Ceremony, until you walk across the stage.
Audience Seating
Audience seating is on a first-come, first-serves basis. We recommend that your guests arrive between 4:00pm-4:30pm. THIS IS A NON TICKETED CEREMONY. There are 1100 seats available.
Family Meeting Area after the Ceremony
Graduates will be the first to exit the Ceremony area and the guests will be asked to stay seated until all graduates are out of the area. You will meet with your families according to the following (subject to change):
- Last names A-L: Meet in Lion Courtyard
- Last names M-Z: Meet in Theater Courtyard
You will be exiting once the Parade Marshals direct you towards the ‘Ewa side of the stage. The Diamond Head side of your rows will be blocked off. This makes it easier for you to separate into your respective courtyards to meet your families/friends.
Accessible Shuttle Service: There is only ONE seat on the golf cart so your family member may need to wait for the shuttles. Shuttles are only for the elderly and physically challenged. To use the shuttle service please complete the liability form and bring it to the ceremony.
- Pickup from 4:00pm-5:30pm, Diamond Head portables parking lot
- Pickup 7:00pm-8:00pm at the side of BE 101, Diamond Head portables parking lot
- Subject to change
Family/Friends Additional Information
- There will not be an area to set up photo tripods. Please inform family/friends they will not be allowed to set up tripods around the ceremony area.
- Your family/friends cannot hang banners on the railings, they must carry them.
- Live streaming: Do you have family and friends who are not able to attend the Ceremony? They can watch it livestreamed on our Commencement Ceremony website.
- Please drive with aloha. To assist with safe driving HPD will be directing traffic on the roads and Leeward Security will be directing traffic in the parking lot.
- There is NO rehearsal, Staff will be sharing this information with you when they line you up before the Ceremony.
- Commencement Ceremony Programs will be given to you as you line up
- You must stay for the entire Ceremony.
- Your tassels should be placed on the RIGHT and will move to the LEFT at the closing of the ceremony.
- Share your pride on social media, @leewardcc (hashtag TBD)
- You do NOT receive your diplomas at the Commencement Ceremony. You will receive your diploma/certificates in the mail in 6-8 weeks from the close of grades.
Student Speakers and Singers
Do you want to be part of the Commencement Ceremony as a speaker or singer? Please review the eligibility information below.
Student Speaker Eligibility
- Conferred Degrees for Summer 2023, Fall 2023 or petitioned for Spring 2024, Summer 2024, and Fall 2024 by March 10, 2024.
- Cumulative GPA above of 3.7 and higher
- At least 40 credits at Leeward
- No more than 1 class withdrawal format of the report.
Eligible Student speakers will be notified by March 15th
Student Singers
- Must sing Hawai‘i Pono‘ī
- Conferred Degrees for Summer 2023, Fall 2023 or petitioned for Spring 2024, Summer 2024, and Fall 2024 by March 10, 2024.
To apply, complete the Application Form.