We are pleased to announce that our 2023 Commencement speaker is former U.S. Representative Liz Cheney, Colorado College Class of 1988. Cheney, who graduated with a political science degree from CC and a law degree from the University of Chicago, served as a Republican representative of Wyoming from 2017 to the beginning of this year. She recently joined the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics as a professor of practice.

Also at Commencement, Colorado College will confer honorary degrees upon the following notable individuals:

Dr. Mike Edmonds, retiring senior vice president, joined Colorado College in 1991. As acting co-president from 2020 to 2021, he led the campus community through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and became the first Black president in the college’s 147-year history. Prior to the presidency, Edmonds served as dean of students and vice president of Student Life. Deeply involved in collegiate speech and debate, he was inducted into the National Speech and Debate Association Hall of Fame.

Robert G. Moore, retiring senior vice president for Finance and Administration, chief financial officer, and chief operating officer, joined the college in 2009. His work improved CC’s physical campus, the compensation and benefits of employees, college finances, financial aid, and the student experience. Moore served as acting co-president of Colorado College in 2020-21, navigating the difficulties of COVID-19. Moore is a national leader, having served in 2020-21 as the chair of the National Association of College and University Business Officers.

Hilaree Nelson, Colorado College Class of 1995 (In Memoriam), North Face team captain, National Geographic Adventurer, first woman to climb Everest and Lhotse (both over 8,000 meters) in a single 24-hour push, and first to ski from the summit of Lhotse. Nelson was an all-time great in ski mountaineering, mentor to other women mountaineers, and an advocate for climate-change awareness. She died in September 2022 in a ski fall caused by an avalanche near the summit of Manaslu in Nepal.

Robin Wilson, professor emeritus, the Open University (UK), world-renowned mathematician, historian of mathematics, and from 1982 to 2016, a frequent visiting professor at CC. He gave numerous lectures to the wider college on a range of mathematical, historical, and musical topics. He authored or co-authored 50 books and 80+ articles on topics ranging from abstract algebra and graph theory to popularizations of mathematical ideas.

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Schedule of Events

Schedule subject to change. Additional event details will be published here as they are finalized.

Friday, April 28

Location: Registrar

Deadline for seniors to apply to graduate. Graduating seniors must submit their application to graduate by Friday, April 28, in order to walk in the ceremony this spring. If eligible, students can find the link to the application on their student menu in Banner SSB. It only takes a few minutes to opt into the ceremony, provide height information for a gown, and confirm diploma name and mailing address. Graduates will not be able to claim guest tickets until they complete this process.

Tuesday, May 16

11 a.m. Honors Convocation

Location: Shove Memorial Chapel

This is CC’s opportunity to honor outstanding students and faculty. The annual program includes departmental awards, all-college awards, just world awards, faculty teaching and professorships, and awards from the CC Student Government Association. All are welcome to attend!

Wednesday, May 24

12 p.m. Champagne Showers & Senior BBQ

Location: Worner Quad & JLK McHugh

5 p.m. Senior Soiree

Location: Fine Arts Center

Senior event with President Song Richardson and First Year Program Faculty

Thursday, May 25

TBD Cap and Gown Pickup

Location: CC Bookstore: Yalich Student Services Center

Friday, May 26

TBD Cap and Gown Pickup

Location: CC Bookstore: Yalich Student Services Center

11 a.m. Commencement Rehearsal (mandatory)

Location: Ed Robson Arena

All graduates are required to attend a rehearsal to walk in Sunday's ceremony. Line up for this will be the same at Commencement.

3 p.m. Phi Beta Kappa Induction Ceremony (invitation only)

Location: Celeste Theatre Main Space

Saturday, May 27

10 – 11 a.m. Legacy Brunch (invitation only)

Location: Tutt Alumni House

2 – 3 p.m. Senior Class Photo

Location: Palmer Steps

A cap and gown are required for the photo. The baccalaureate senior line up for will be in the Tutt Science Quad.

3 – 4 p.m. Baccalaureate Ceremony

Location: Shove Chapel

A baccalaureate is a centuries-old graduation tradition. This ceremony provides a quiet, intimate opportunity to reflect on the rite of passage of graduation, hear from a faculty member, and enjoy students' talents. Students and their invited guests may attend in person, and an online live stream of the ceremony will be available. Two guests per student. Cap and gown required.

Departmental Receptions

Location: Various

Academic departments typically hold receptions on Saturday afternoon following Baccalaureate, at locations on and off campus. Stay tuned for more details on the Commencement website and watch for an invitation directly from your academic department.

Sunday, May 28

7:15 a.m. Graduates Assemble

Location: North side Ed Robson Arena

8:30 – 11 a.m. Commencement Ceremony Class Of 2023

Location: Ed Robson Arena

The ceremony will take place in CC's Ed Robson Arena, which opened its doors in the fall of 2021. A designated number of tickets (estimated five seated tickets and two standing room-only tickets per student) will be available for each graduate. More instructions for claiming these free tickets will be forthcoming, and tickets will be able to be claimed through the Ticketmaster system at the beginning of May.

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Reception

Location: Tava Quad

Everyone is invited to gather and celebrate outside on Tava Quad following the Commencement ceremony.