Rice University will congratulate almost 3,000 students who have dutifully earned their college diplomas during commencement weekend May 9-10. For more information, including updates to the policies and procedures for commencement events, please visit the Rice commencement website.
Dr. Huda Zoghbi, an internationally renowned neurogeneticist and pioneer in the field of brain research, will serve as speaker at the university’s 112th commencement ceremony.
“Getting to graduation day has required discipline, focus and endurance,” said Amy Dittmar, the Howard R. Hughes Provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “I want to offer my sincere congratulations to this year’s graduates.”
Kelsea Whiting, a proud first-generation college student from the small agricultural town of Colusa, California, will deliver the undergraduate student address at this year’s commencement. Representing Brown College, Whiting graduates with a double major in political science and visual and dramatic arts, with a concentration in photography.
“As a first-generation student, I came to Rice feeling uncertain and overwhelmed,” she said. “Looking back now, I see how much I’ve grown — and I’m deeply grateful for the journey and the lasting relationships I've made at Rice. My advice to other students is simple: adapt and embrace the unexpected. That’s where the real growth happens.”
Al Danto, managing partner of the Danto Group and a partner at Danto Langerud Investments, will speak at the MBA commencement ceremony. He teaches entrepreneurship and acquisition courses in the EMBA program, guiding students through launching startups or acquiring businesses.
Rice’s commencement ceremonies are closed, private ticketed events. A ticket for attendees who are not students, faculty or staff is required for entry to both Tudor Fieldhouse and Rice Stadium for all ceremonies. Below is an important update about the ticket-claiming process.
- Each degree candidate can request up to 15 guest tickets. Requests for additional tickets should be sent to commencement@rice.edu. Tickets are not transferable. Requests for additional tickets must be submitted by May 7 and will be approved if space permits.
- An email with details on how to claim tickets will be sent to each degree candidate’s Rice email address. It is the degree candidate’s responsibility to claim guest tickets via the unique URL sent in the email.
- Doctoral and advanced degrees ceremonies: Because participant RSVPs were required for these ceremonies, only those who have confirmed their intent to participate will receive the email to claim guest tickets. If anyone plans on participating in the ceremony and did not complete the RSVP process through the Tassel website, please email commencement@rice.edu for assistance with next steps.
- Doctoral and advanced degrees ceremonies: Because participant RSVPs were required for these ceremonies, only those who have confirmed their intent to participate will receive the email to claim guest tickets. If anyone plans on participating in the ceremony and did not complete the RSVP process through the Tassel website, please email commencement@rice.edu for assistance with next steps.
- Once guest tickets have been claimed by the degree candidate, it is the graduate’s responsibility to send the tickets to guests. The system will provide an option to either email the tickets to guests or to print the tickets. Guests will need to either pull up the ticket on a mobile device or have a physical copy to gain entry to the venue.
- All guests over the age of 2 will be required to have a ticket for entry.
- Rice students, faculty and staff will be granted entry with their Rice ID.
- Re-entry into the stadium or fieldhouse will not be permitted after exiting.
The schedule for the weekend follows:
Friday, May 9
Jones School (MBA) Commencement Ceremony
2 p.m.
Tudor Fieldhouse
Saturday, May 10
Doctoral Commencement Ceremony
9 a.m.
Tudor Fieldhouse
Advanced Degrees Commencement Ceremony
2 p.m.
Tudor Fieldhouse
Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony
7 p.m.
Rice Stadium