Holy Cross College’s 57th Commencement

Decorated graduation hat

Holy Cross College will celebrate the 57th Commencement at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, 2024, on the Holy Cross College campus. Families are invited and must have a ticket to participate. The event will be live-streamed for those who cannot attend in person.

Kerry Alys Robinson, a veteran in Catholic nonprofit leadership, was named Catholic Charities USA president and CEO on July 25, 2023. Robinson is only the second layperson and second woman to lead the U.S. Catholic Church’s largest charitable network. Robinson joined CCUSA from Leadership Roundtable, a Catholic nonprofit organization that promotes best practices and accountability in the management, finances, communications, and human resources development of the Catholic Church in the U.S. Robinson began her tenure at CCUSA on August 23. She replaced Dominican Sister Donna Markham, the first woman to lead CCUSA, who retired last summer after nine years at the helm.

Please join us for the Baccalaureate Mass celebration at 4:30 p.m. on May 17, followed by a social. All faiths are welcome.

Carmen (Stephanie) Nunez ’24 is this year’s valedictorian.

Holy Cross College has named four Salutatorians, each representing one of the four areas of our academic departments:

Kyle Kochanowski ’23 in Business, Neema Kwangu ’24 in humanities, Morgan Maggine ’24 in Natural and Quantitative Sciences, and Jacqueline Milkowski ’24, in the Social Sciences.

Below is information on class rings, graduation announcements, diploma frames, and senior week activities.

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Ceremony Rehearsal (Mandatory)
4:00 p.m.
Line-up in Ave Brew Cafe

Friday, May 17, 2024

Baccalaureate Mass
4:30 p.m.
St. Joseph Chapel

Saturday, May 18, 2024

56th Commencement Ceremony
2:00 p.m.
McKenna Arena

Guests with tickets will be able to enter the arena at 1:00 p.m.

Kerry Alys Robinson, a veteran in Catholic nonprofit leadership, was named Catholic Charities USA president and CEO on July 25, 2023. Robinson is only the second layperson and second woman to lead the U.S. Catholic Church’s largest charitable network.

Robinson joined CCUSA from Leadership Roundtable, a Catholic nonprofit organization that promotes best practices and accountability in the management, finances, communications, and human resources development of the Catholic Church in the U.S.

Robinson began her tenure at CCUSA on August 23. She replaced Dominican Sister Donna Markham, the first woman to lead CCUSA, who retired last summer after nine years at the helm.

Neal Black, Chair of the CCUSA Board of Directors, highlighted in a statement Robinson’s career-long devotion to serving and bettering the church, adding that both the organization and those it serves “will greatly benefit from Kerry’s extraordinary passion, expertise and insight.”

Cardinal-designate Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States who has known Robinson for years, said in a statement that Robinson brings both a love for Christ and wide experience to the role. “She is a woman of the Church and brings to CCUSA her love for Christ and wide experience of engagement with the Gospel, particularly concern for the poor and vulnerable,” Pierre said in a statement. “Kerry has a great ability to build relationships. I am sure her many gifts and talents will further the CCUSA mission and bring hope to the many people served.”

Bishop Frank Dewane of Venice, the episcopal liaison to CCUSA, added in a statement that the organization is “truly blessed” to welcome Robinson as its next CEO. “No doubt Kerry’s vast experience and skills will be an asset to both the organization and those whom it serves,” Dewane said. “Please join me in prayer that the Lord may grant her wisdom and zeal as she takes up her new leadership responsibilities.”

Robinson had been with Leadership Roundtable for 18 years. First as its founding executive director, then as global ambassador and as executive partner. Leadership Roundtable announced that in light of her new appointment, Robinson will transition to serve on the organization’s Board of Directors.

Robinson is also the current director of the Opus Prize Foundation, which offers an annual million-dollar prize for faith-based social entrepreneurship. Prior to her current roles, Robinson served as the director of development for Saint Thomas More Catholic Chapel and Center at Yale University. While at Yale, Robinson also co-founded 2 ESTEEM, a program that prepares Catholic college students for leadership in their future parish communities.

Robinson is also active in Catholic philanthropy. She’s a member of the Raskob Foundation for Catholic Activities and Foundations and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities, and has been an advisor to and trustee of more than 25 grantmaking foundations, charitable nonprofits and family philanthropies. She served for 15 years on the national committee for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Robinson joined CCUSA amidst a period of growth with Markham at the helm. The organization currently represents the interests of Catholic Charities’ 167 member agencies that serve more
than 15 million vulnerable people annually at close to 3,900 locations across the country and its five territories.

Robinson has a B.A. degree from Georgetown University and an M.A.R. degree from Yale Divinity School. She and her husband, Dr. Michael Cappello, professor of medicine and director of the World Fellows Program at Yale University, have two children, Christopher and Sophia

PARKING

Guests may park in any Holy Cross College campus student parking lot, with the exception of any barricaded sections (Pfeil Center lot and commuter lot).

Parking spots have been reserved for those guests with special parking needs.  Please contact Holy Cross Security for details.

SUGGESTED ATTIRE

Appropriate dress is business to business casual attire.  Please no jeans, sweats, athletic shoes.  Note that graduates will ascend and descend stairs, so flats and low heals are recommended.

ROBING AND LINE-UP

Please report to the Vincent Lounge / Ave Brew Café at 1:15 pm. for robing and ALPHABETICAL line-up.  Your guests are invited to be seated in the Pfeil Center at this time.

Each guest with a ceremony ticket will be allowed to be seated at 1:00 p.m.; guests without tickets will be invited to enter the McKenna arena once the graduation procession has entered the gym.  Un-ticketed guests may be seated as space permits, or take standing room only.

Do not bring valuables, as there will be no secure place for purses, backpacks, etc.

Graduates should wear their retainable cap and gown, and Stole of Gratitude.

Caps may be decorated in a tasteful manner.

CAP TASSELS will have the Holy Cross shield attached. The 2023 tassel dangle has purposely been removed and may be reattached to your tassel AFTER commencement. Tassels should be placed on the RIGHT side of the cap for procession.  Once degrees are conferred graduates will be instructed to move tassel to the left side of cap.

Graduates will line up alphabetically, in a single line, behind the Registrar, flag bearers, and student presenters.  Process to the Pfeil Center.

CEREMONY

Names of each graduate will be taped on the graduate chairs in the Pfeil Center; please have a seat in the chair with your name. 

The Registrar will invite each row of graduates to stand at the appropriate time, to proceed to the stage.  Names will be read alphabetically.  Proceed across the stage, stop for one moment, receive diploma from college president, look off stage, and smile —your photo will taken while you shake hands with Dr. Clark.  Descend from the stage and reclaim your seat.

During the ceremony, Dr. Griffin will instruct graduates to look upward toward the running track for group / class photo to be taken.

Looking for official class rings and jewelry? Click here to view and order class rings.

Click here to view and order graduation announcements.

Click here to view and order diploma frames.