Preparations underway for 43rd Commencement this weekend

Workers set up the stage in Williams Stadium for Liberty University Commencement 2016.

Liberty University staff is working tirelessly to provide a first-class event for the more than 35,000 guests expected to attend Commencement this Saturday. About 8,000 chairs have already been set up on the field at Williams Stadium.

The main ceremony requires over 700 staff and student volunteers.

“What is exciting for me is that each year we continue to see more and more of our staff around campus wanting to be involved with graduation,” said Lori Baker, associate registrar for operations. “It is hard work that week, and it is very encouraging to see how much our staff and faculty care about making that weekend an amazing one not only for our graduates but also for the guests that attend to celebrate with them.”

Baker also noted that Liberty’s graduates will be wearing approximately 194,300 water bottles — each graduation gown is made up of about 29 recycled water bottles.

For the first time, Liberty’s LaHaye Ice Center will be used for one of 26 degree presentation ceremonies. Special flooring and chairs have been set up over the ice (guests should expect a chilly environment).

In all, Liberty will honor over 19,000 graduates, including more than 16,800 who earned their degrees through Liberty’s online education programs. Many online students attend Commencement and take advantage of the chance to meet their professors face-to-face and tour campus.

A stage and chairs are set up for degree presentation ceremonies in Liberty University’s LaHaye Ice Center.

The Class of 2016 has more than 9,000 students graduating with graduate degrees, including 56 from Liberty University School of Law and over 500 doctoral candidates. There are more than 5,000 students graduating with honors, of which 1,143 have a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Overall, the top majors are human services, psychology, interdisciplinary studies, religion, and business administration (see below for a breakdown of top majors).

The top states represented in the Class of 2016 are Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, California, South Carolina, Ohio, and Maryland. The diverse graduating class includes students from countries across the world, the most highly represented (after the U.S.) being Canada, Korea, China, Nigeria, Germany, Haiti, The Bahamas, Japan, and Kenya.

Liberty is a proud military-supportive institution, with over 5,800 service members, veterans, and military spouses graduating. Many military graduates have earned their degrees while serving on active duty overseas.

About 8,000 chairs have been set up on the field of Williams Stadium for Liberty University Commencement 2016.

The Main Commencement Ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. in Williams Stadium and will feature New York Giants running back and Liberty alumnus Rashad Jennings as the guest speaker.

Liberty’s 2016 Baccalaureate Service, featuring Purple Heart veteran and evangelist Tim Lee, will take place Friday, May 13, at 6 p.m. at the Vines Center.

Other events on Friday include a reception for graduates as well as a ceremony to honor military graduates and their families. See the full Commencement schedule for details.

• For visitor information, a campus map, and other useful information, visit the Commencement webpage.

Top majors for the class of 2016

Resident, undergraduate

Business Administration

Psychology

Nursing

Criminal Justice

Communication Studies

Online, undergraduate

Psychology

Interdisciplinary Studies

Religion

Business Administration

Criminal Justice

Resident, graduate

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Psychology

Nursing

Criminal Justice

Communication Studies

Online, graduate

Human Services

Master of Business Administration

Master of Education

Professional Counseling

Master of Divinity