The Week’s Events

Highlights of Commencement Week 2011: May 24-27

Commencement week includes addresses by Harvard president Drew Faust and Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, M.P.A. ’71. For details and updates, visit www.harvardmagazine.com/commencement

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Tuesday, May 24

Phi Beta Kappa Exercises, at 11, with poet Henri Cole and orator Joyce Carol Oates. 

Baccalaureate Service for the Class of 2011 at 2, Memorial Church, followed by class picture, Widener steps.

Senior Class Family Dinner and Party, at 6. Athletic complex.

 

Wednesday, May 25

ROTC Commissioning Ceremony, at 11, with President Drew Faust and a guest speaker TBA. Tercentenary Theatre.

Kennedy School Commencement Address by Kolokotrones University Professor Paul Farmer, M.D. ’88, Ph.D. ’90, followed by a reception. Time and place TBA.

Senior Class Day Exercises, at 2, with the Harvard and Ivy Orations and actress Amy Poehler. Tercentenary Theatre.

Law School Class Day, 2:30, with actor Alec Baldwin, followed by a reception. Holmes Field.

Business School Class Day Ceremony, 2:30, with Kathy Giusti, M.B.A. ’85, founder and CEO of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, followed by a reception at 4. Baker Lawn. 

Masters’ Receptions for seniors and guests. The Undergraduate Houses.

Graduate School of Education Convocation at 3. Radcliffe Yard.

Graduate School of De­sign Class Day at 4, with Chris Anderson, curator of TED, followed by a reception. Gund Hall. 

Divinity School Multireligious Service of Thanksgiving, 4:30. Memorial Church. 

Harvard University Band, Harvard Glee Club, and Radcliffe Choral Society Concert, at 8. Tercentenary Theatre. 

 

Thursday, May 26 

Commencement Day. Gates open at 6:45.

The 360th Commencement Exercises, 9:45. Tercentenary Theatre.

Senior Luncheon and Diploma Ceremonies, 11:30. The Undergraduate Houses.

The General Alumni Spread, 11:30. The Old Yard.

The Tree Spread, for College classes of 1919-1960, 11:30. Holden Quadrangle.

Graduate School Diploma Ceremonies, from 11:30 (time varies by school). 

Alumni Parade, 1:45. The Old Yard.

The Annual Meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association, 2:30, with speeches by President Faust and President Sirleaf. Tercentenary Theatre.

Medical and Dental Schools Class Day Cere­mony, at 2, with HMS professor and author Atul Gawande. HMS Quadrangle. 

 

Friday, May 27 

Radcliffe Day Luncheon, 12:30, with Radcliffe Medal recipient Ela Bhatt, founder of the Self-Employed Women’s Association. Radcliffe Yard.

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For updates on Harvard reunions, Radcliffe Day, and events for graduating seniors, visit www.commencementoffice.harvard.edu, or contact the Harvard Alumni Association (124 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge) at 617-495-2555; haa@harvard.edu; or www.haa.harvard.edu. For information on all other professional or graduate school events, visit their respective websites.

The Harvard Information Center, Holyoke Center, is open every day except Sunday, 9 to 5 (telephone: 617-495-1573).

Click here for the May-June 2011 issue table of contents

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