Student Ceremony Information

Senior Portraits  

  • April 11 – 13, 2026
  • April 23 – 30, 2026

Get professional graduation photos. Photo Magic Media provide senior portrait services to Bowie State University students with their signature style.

To order your photos or make an appointment:

855-416-0016
PhotoMagicMedia.com

Commencement Day Photos

Professional photos of graduates with their diplomas will also be available through Photo Magic Media after the ceremony. Please sign up to get copies of your photo.

 

 

Graduate Sendoff  

  • Wednesday, May 20, 2026
  • Noon to 7 p.m.
  • Student Center Patio

Activities may include: 

  • Decorating your mortarboard (cap) 
  • Meeting alumni 
  • Light refreshments 
  • Giveaways and celebration 

Regalia  

All regalia must be purchased in person at the Bowie State University Bookstore.  Please ensure you have your cap, gown, and (if applicable) hood prior to rehearsal. 

Rehearsal and Evening Reception (Mandatory)  

  • Thursday, May 21, 2026
  • 3 p.m.
  • Bulldog Stadium

Rehearsal will include a full commencement walkthrough for graduates, platform party, and program flow review.

  1. Graduates should bring their cap and hood
  2. In case of inclement weather, rehearsal will be held in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center Auditorium

Rehearsal will conclude with a reception immediately afterward. All graduates and program participants are invited to attend. 

Commencement Day  

  • Friday, May 22, 2026
  • Bulldog Stadium
  • 7 a.m. – Graduates arrive for assembly/check-in (James Gym)
  • 8:20 a.m. – Processional begins
  • 9 a.m. – Ceremony begins

Arrival Time and Location

Graduates must arrive no later than 7 a.m., wearing regalia, to check in at James Gym. 

There are no storage areas for belongings, and breakfast will be provided for graduates until 8 a.m.

Tickets

Tickets will be issued digitally via email to graduates:

Spring Commencement

Tickets will be issued digitally via email to graduates:

  • 5 tickets for guests attending the ceremony at Bulldog Stadium
  • 2 tickets for guests attending viewing locations

Graduates do not need a ticket for themselves to participate in the ceremony. Duplicating or copying tickets is strictly prohibited; duplicated ticket holders will be denied entry. 

Viewing Locations

  1. Martin Luther King, Jr. Center
  2. Student Center

Graduates do not need tickets to participate.

Duplicating or copying tickets is strictly prohibited; duplicated ticket holders will be denied entry.

Honor Cords

Honor cords and name cards will be distributed during the Graduate Breakfast on Friday, May 22. Pickup time is 7:30 a.m. Photo ID may be required at pickup. Honor cords are for undergraduate students only.

Guests

  • Gates open at 7:30 a.m.
  • General seating will pause at 8:15 a.m. until after the processional

Important Notes

  • Guests are encouraged to arrive early
  • Family and guests of graduates are not allowed in the assembly area
  • Strollers and umbrellas are not permitted in Bulldog Stadium

Parking

On Commencement Day, graduates and persons with disabilities should park in Lot I. All other guests should park in available lots, where spaces are not designated as reserved. Parking attendants will provide assistance.  View the campus map online.

Attire and Security

A clear bag policy will be enforced to provide a safer environment for the public and expedite entry into the Bulldog Stadium Graduates are required to wear a cap and gown, and high heels are not recommended due to the stadium’s grass surface..  

Donations 

Make your class gift of $20.26 at bowiestate.edu/give.