This page will be updated as we continue to plan this week so please keep checking this page for the most up to date information.
Page updated on 3/7/2025
The 74th Commencement Ceremony will be held on May 17, 2025.
Congratulations, Class of 2025! Your moment has arrived! On behalf of the Student Activities Office we could not be happier for you and your accomplishments during your time here at Daemen.
Before going any further...
Make sure you:
- Have submitted an application for degree with the Registrar's Office.
- Have indicated if you are (or are not) participating in the Graduation Ceremony.
- Have purchased your cap & gown through the bookstore. Use this link to purchase yours online.
- If you are a Residential Student planning to stay on campus during Graduation Week, please complete the Graduation Week request form emailed to you from Housing in mid-April. If you have any questions about this, please contact Housing at Residence.Life@Daemen.edu
If you need to do one or all of the following, please head over to daemen.edu/graduationinfo and complete those tasks before going any further here!
2025 Graduation Week Schedule of Events
Student Activities works with a number of offices and departments to create a memorable experience for our graduating students. Please know that the events planned during Graduation Week are open to ALL graduating students; undergrad and graduate students included.
Check back often for updates! Please direct any questions about graduation week to Student Activities at student_activities@daemen.edu.
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Lavender Celebration (John R. Yurtchuk Student Center Alumni Lounge). Lavender Celebration is a historic tradition held at colleges and universities across the US to recognize and congratulate LGBTQ+ graduates for their persistence and contribution to their campus communities. This is a special opportunity for our LGBTQ+ students and their allies. Graduates from any semester during 2025 (January, May, or August) may participate in this ceremony. To register, please complete this form. Registration closes on April 26th. Any questions may be sent to diversity@daemen.edu
Thursday, May 1, 2025
11:00 am - 1:30 pm
ALHANA Achievement Ceremony (John R. Yurtchuk Student Center Social Room). The ALHANA (African, Latinx, Hispanic, Asian, Native American) Achievement Ceremony celebrates and recognizes the unique obstacles faced by many marginalized students. We honor the perseverance and commitment taken to succeed as college graduates. Graduates from any semester during 2024 (January, May, or August) may participate in this ceremony. To register, please complete this form. Registration closes on April 25th. Any questions may be sent to diversity@daemen.edu.
Monday, May 12, 2025
11:00 am - 1:30 pm
Graduation Week Brunch (John R. Yurtchuk Student Center, Dining Room) Join the Graduation Week Committee for a special brunch celebration. The menu will include stuffed French toast, Iced Bourbon Vanilla Latte (non-alcoholic version available too), and much more.
6:00 pm-9:00 pm
Best of Western NY Ball (John R. Yurtchuk Student Center Social Room). Come join your fellow graduates and alumni for a fun night of sampling the best foods and beverages Western NY has to offer. Enjoy some music from our DJ and snap some memories in our photo booth.
6:00 pm-9:00 pm
Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society Inductions (John R. Yurtchuk Student Center, Alumni Lounge). Email Carol Renner at crenner@daemen.edu for more details.
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Cap Decorating (John R. Yurtchuk Student Center, Lobby). Stop by and make your grad cap your own! We'll have a bunch of supplies on hand for you to use or grab and go! This event is free for all graduating Daemen students.
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
“Boring Prize” Bingo (John R. Yurtchuk Student Center Dining Room) Please trust us when we say this event will still be fun… it’s just the prizes are a little more… Practical... You’re graduating so you don’t need headphones; you’ll need a Wegman’s gift card, a Home Depot gift card, a nice tool set for around the house to fix everyday issues, a nice vacuum to keep your place clean, in addition to some other prizes that may not be as flashy as other bingo nights, but you’ll need them!
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Cap Decorating (John R. Yurtchuk Student Center, Lobby). Stop by and make your grad cap your own! We'll have a bunch of supplies on hand for you to use or grab and go! This event is free for all graduating Daemen students.
11:15 am - 1:00 pm
Athletics Senior Luncheon (John R. Yurtchuk Student Center, Alumni Lounge) Staff Contact TBD
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Trustee Scholar Graduate Reception (Rosary Hall). Email Yolanda Morris at ymorris@daemen.edu for more details.
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Graduating Class Reception at The New York Beer Project (Orchard Park Location). Come out for a night of fun, dinner, and drinks at the newest New York Beer Project in Orchard Park. This event is capped at 50 students so make sure you get your tickets through the Eventbrite link before they sell out.
Thursday, May 15, 2025
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Cap Decorating (John R. Yurtchuk Student Center, Lobby). Stop by and make your grad cap your own! We'll have a bunch of supplies on hand for you to use or grab and go! This event is free for all graduating Daemen students.
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Campus-Wide Picnic (John R. Yurtchuk Student, Center Back Lawn) We're serving up a picnic lunch to the campus community before graduation! Enjoy one final Yurtchuk Dining meal before walking the stage with your friends, faculty, and staff here at Daemen. Vegetarian and Vegan options will be available. Bring your appetite! This event is free for the Daemen community to join.
4:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Physical Therapy Graduation Reception (John R. Yurtchuk Student Center, Alumni Lounge): For more information contact Melissa Wilkerson at mwilkers@daemen.edu.
5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Food Truck Dinner (John R. Yurtchuk Student Center Back Lawn) Join your fellow graduates for a free dinner from some of our local food trucks (Food Trucks TBD)
Friday, May 16, 2025
11:00 am
Undergraduate Student Graduation Rehearsal (John R. Yurtchuk Student Center, Social Room). All graduating UNDERGRADUATE students MUST attend.
12:00 pm
Graduate Student Graduation Rehearsal (John R. Yurtchuk Student Center, Social Room). Graduating graduate students should attend, IF you have any concerns about the pronunciation of your name, or if you have any questions about your diploma, and/or academic related inquiries.
6:00 pm - 7:30pm
Annual Excellence Awards (John R. Yurtchuk Student Center, Social Room). Graduating students, their families, and members of the University community are invited. Daemen University’s Annual Excellence Awards Ceremony is an event that celebrates achievement, aspiration, and the completion of undergraduate and graduate careers. We take this time to celebrate academic traditions, to honor achievement, and to congratulate our students who represent excellence in each department.
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Immediately Following Annual Excellence Awards)
Annual Graduation Celebration (John R. Yurtchuk Student Center, Dining Room). Time to celebrate all of our graduates at this fun and festive event. This dress-up affair is always a highlight of Graduation Week. Live music, hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and light beverages will be provided. This is a free event for all graduating students, their families, and members of the University community.
Saturday, May 17, 2025
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Daemen University Physician Assistant White Coat Ceremony (John R. Yurtchuk Student Center, Social Room). For more information contact Allyson Kirk at akirk@daemen.edu or Jennifer Barwell at jbarwell@daemen.edu.
12:00 pm
Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony (Kleinhans Music Hall). Questions regarding commencement should be emailed to commencement@daemen.edu.
The ceremony will be live-streamed at https://daemen.edu/commencement.
4:30 pm
Graduate Commencement Ceremony (Kleinhans Music Hall). Questions regarding commencement should be emailed to commencement@daemen.edu.
The ceremony will be live-streamed at https://daemen.edu/commencement.