May 1, 2017
Dear CSUB graduates,
Congratulations on your well-deserved success!
We are two weeks away from celebrating the 37th Chicano Commencement Celebration, as we approach
this year’s celebration, we would like to take this opportunity to provide important details of
information to you. PLEASE READ THIS LETTER IN ITS ENTIRETY!
 Participants are required to wear their CSU-Bakersfield designated academic cap and gown for this
ceremony (Blue- Undergraduate / Black- Graduate)
 Chicano Commencement Certificates + two 5x7 photo prints will be available for pick up at the HEP
Office starting Monday, May 29th to Thursday, June 29th. Your fee includes these items.
THINGS YOU NEED TO DO PRIOR TO THE EVENT:
 PHOTO ID Required to pick-up your tickets at the HEP Office beginning Friday, May 5th; 8:00AM to
6:30PM (The HEP Office is located inside Administration East Bldg. next to the Cashier’s Window).
Babies and toddlers will not require a ticket, but we will ask guests to sit their child on their lap if
seats are needed for other guests.
NOTE: A second email will be sent by Wednesday with information for additional tickets.
DAY OF EVENT
Parking: there will be free parking for participants and guests on Lot I and H located on the south of the
Icardo Center (remind your guests to enter the campus through Camino Media and Roadrunner Drive).
INFORMATION FOR THE PARTICIPANTS:
ARRIVAL- All participants need to arrive at 9:00AM and go to the CHECK-IN table upon arrival.
At the check-in table
 Participants will pick-up their sash
 Participants will pick-up their announcement (reader) card
INFORMATION FOR THE GUESTS:
NOTE: Balloons are not prohibited, but guests will be asked to seat at a designated area where balloon
arrangements will not block the view for other guests.
DOORS OPEN at 9AM; remind your guests to bring their tickets.
Inside the Icardo Center, guests will be treated with
 Live Mariachi Performance- “Mariachi San Marcos”
 Live Aztec Dancers- “Danza Azteca”
 FREE Raffles Items in celebration to Mother’s Day!
Outside the Icardo Center, guests will have the opportunity to buy refreshments and more.
GRAD LOUNGE- Only graduates are admitted to the lounge area.
At the lounge area, participants will have access to
 Light snacks and refreshments
 Photo Booth
 Live Music and Entertainment!
ASSEMBLY AND PROCESSIONAL
The grad lounge will serve as the Assembly Area; graduation marshals will organize the processional
lines. Participants will not be required to line up in any particular order (e.g. alphabetical order);
however, graduate students will be the first in line followed by their undergrad fellow classmates.
University President, Dr. Horace Mitchell and M.E.Ch.A. President, Guadalupe Nunez will lead the
procession exactly at 10:00AM followed by University Provost, Vice Presidents, Faculty, Staff, and
Participants. Graduation marshals will direct everyone to their seat once inside the Icardo Center.
NOTE: Everyone will need to remain standing until the end of the United States National Anthem.
PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES
This year, a unique piece was added to the ceremony. The names of the graduate's parent(s) will be
announced just before the announcement of each participant’s name. This special recognition will be
followed by a reader, who will read the message that you provided with your online application.
Graduation marshals will announce when participants need to stand and walk to the designated waiting
area before the platform. Participants will hand out their announcement (reader) cards before walking
across the stage. Each participant will be greeted by a faculty or staff at the center of the stage where a
picture will be taken. Immediately after the first picture, participants will proceed to the other end of
the stage where a graduation marshal will guide the participants to a designated are for a second
picture before returning to their seat.
NOTE: Official Chicano Commencement Certificates + two 5x7 photo prints will be available for pick up
at the HEP Office starting Monday, May 29th to Thursday, June 29th.
THE RECESIONAL
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the M.E.Ch.A. President, Guadalupe Nunez, will dismiss all
participants. For the recessional, the pomp and circumstance music will announce to the graduation
marshals when to guide the platform party and students to the exit.
NOTE: Participants will need to use caution to exit the building.