Spring is just around the corner and we have seniors on campus who are but a couple short blocks from the finish line!

More than a ceremony, Commencement and CC’s other end-of-year events present an opportunity for the campus community to celebrate achievements, reflect on experiences, and collectively look ahead to the bright futures that await our graduates. 

Please take note of the dates below and keep a close eye on your inbox and the Commencement 2025 webpage for additional details to come.

Sunday, May 18, 8:30 a.m., Ed Robson Arena 

Commencement Speaker
The College is pleased to welcome Mike Shum ’07, an award-winning filmmaker and journalist, back to campus to deliver the 2025 Commencement Address. A Sociology major with minors in Film Studies and African Studies, Shum has built a distinguished career covering some of the world’s most pressing stories. His work—featured by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time, National Geographic, and PBS Frontline—spans investigative journalism, broadcast television, and feature documentaries.

Shum’s career has earned him numerous accolades, including nominations and awards from the National News & Documentary Emmys, the NAACP Image Awards, the Tribeca Film Festival’s Audience Award, and the Nieman Foundation’s Worth Bingham Prize. He recently returned to CC as a visiting instructor and received the Alumni Association’s 2024 Spirit of Adventure Award for his commitment to a life of intellectual, social, and physical adventure. See Shum’s full bio.

We look forward to the valuable insights Shum will share with our graduates as they head into their next chapter.

In addition to Commencement, other related events and festivities include:

Tuesday, May 6, 11 a.m., Shove Memorial Chapel
This is CC’s opportunity to honor outstanding students and faculty. The annual program includes departmental awards, all-college awards, faculty teaching and professorships, and awards from the CC Student Government Association. All members of the campus community are welcome to attend and a livestream of the ceremony will be available online.

Saturday, May 17, 3 p.m., Shove Memorial Chapel
Baccalaureate is a centuries-old graduation tradition, providing an opportunity to reflect on this rite of passage, hear from a faculty member, and celebrate our talented students. Students and their invited guests may attend in person (two guests per student). Seniors who have applied to graduate will receive an email as we get closer to the ceremony with instructions for how to claim tickets to the Baccalaureate ceremony through Ticketmaster. A livestream of the ceremony will also be available online.

Faculty must register in advance to march in the Commencement 2025 events, including the Honors Convocation, Baccalaureate, and Commencement ceremonies. Please use this link to register to march.

Spring 2025 regalia rental requests are due by Tuesday, Mar. 25 at noon. The Dean of Faculty’s office will be paying for the rentals this year. Please use this link to request your regalia from the CC Bookstore.

For questions, reach out to Sarah Nurmi, Assistant Director of College Events at snurmi@coloradocollege.edu.

Want to get involved and be a part of the Commencement excitement? Please consider signing up to volunteer! To learn more or sign up, please contact Jenna Malone on the College Events team at jmalone2024@coloradocollege.edu or (719) 389-6935.

A limited number of standing-room-only tickets will be available for staff and faculty who are not marching. Stay tuned for more information on how to claim a ticket. 

Livestreaming will also be available online for Commencement, Honors Convocation, and Baccalaureate events. 

As members of the CC community, we share pride in the achievements of this year’s graduating students and all CC alumni who’ve crossed the Commencement stage before them over CC’s 150 years. 

Students, thank you for supporting each other throughout your time at CC.

Faculty and staff, thank you for the work you do each day to contribute to our campus community, and for welcoming the hundreds of friends and family members visiting campus for these special celebrations.