{"id":512,"date":"2025-12-01T22:17:49","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T22:17:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.dev.www.purdue.edu\/commencement\/?page_id=512"},"modified":"2026-04-20T05:55:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T05:55:52","slug":"inside-the-ceremony","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/commencement\/families-and-guests\/inside-the-ceremony\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside the\u00a0Ceremony"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n \"Families\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n \n

Inside the Ceremony<\/strong><\/h1>\n \n

A Ceremony Like No Other<\/strong>

From the sound of \u201cPomp and Circumstance\u201d to the turning of tassels, every moment of Purdue\u2019s commencement honors more than a century of Boilermaker tradition.\u00a0

Doors open\u00a090 minutes\u00a0before each ceremony, giving you time to find your seat before graduates begin their procession into Elliott Hall of Music \u2014 a proud walk led by faculty and university leaders. Each candidate\u2019s name is read aloud as they cross the stage,\u00a0marking a personal moment of achievement.\u00a0

As the final notes of \u201cHail Purdue\u201d echo through the hall, graduates exit to cheers, cameras and celebration \u2014 marking the start of their next giant leap.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n
\n
\n \"Graduates\n <\/figure>\n
\n \"A\n <\/figure>\n
\n \"Purdue\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n \n\n
\n
\n

Academic Regalia and Traditions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Attire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The caps, gowns and hoods you\u2019ll see are symbols of scholarly achievement that date back to medieval universities. The tassel and hood colors represent the academic college or school<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n