School of Law Commissioning Ceremony

Location: Library Plaza (Outside / Rain or Shine)
Date & Time: Friday, May 3, 2024, 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET
Graduate Arrival and Line-Up: 7:45 a.m. on the front steps of the Administration Building; academic regalia must be worn
Guest Seating: 8:15 a.m.

Congratulations! You have made it to graduation! We are excited that you have decided to join us for our Commissioning Service, and we look forward to meeting your families and friends.

To commission someone is “to entrust, or to give authority” or “to appoint or assign to a task or function.” Within the context of our graduation, Commissioning is a sacred and holy time of worship, consecration, reflection, prayer, and anointing.

This event will prayerfully commission you to serve the world as a Christian leader in your chosen field. The schedule includes:

• Dean’s welcome
• Presentation of Outstanding Student Awards
• Formal reading of graduate names
• Hooding of graduates
• Faculty prayer of commissioning with each graduate
• Reception at the Communications Building Plaza from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

The service will be streamed live on this page beginning 9:00 a.m. ET on Friday, May 3.

Commencement (also known as graduation) will be held Saturday, May 4 beginning at 9:15 a.m. ET on the Library Plaza. This ceremony includes all graduates and faculty. Please view www.regent.edu/commencement for more information regarding Commencement.

Click here to view the Regent campus map.

Hotels near Regent University: https://www.regent.edu/student-life/student-housing/area-hotels/

Processional*
Welcome	Bradley J. Lingo Dean, School of Law
Invocation	Dr. William L. Hathaway, Ph.D. Provost, Regent University
Award Recognition**	Dean Bradley J. Lingo
The ALI Continuing Legal Education Scholarship & Leadership Award	Associate Dean S. Ernie Walton
The Most Inspirational Award	Associate Dean Jeffrey A. Brauch
The Spiritual/Servant Leadership Award	Professor Lynne Marie Kohm
The Faculty Recognition Award	Senior Lecturer David D. Velloney
The Outstanding Scholastic Achievement Award	Professor Louis W. Hensler, III
The Outstanding Graduate Award (B.A. in Law)	Lecturer Crystal D. Barnett
The Outstanding Graduate Award (M.A. in Law)	Lecturer Crystal D. Barnett
The Outstanding Graduate Award (M.A. in Financial Planning & Law)	Lecturer Crystal D. Barnett
The Outstanding Graduate Award (LL.M.)	Professor Eric A. DeGroff
The Outstanding Graduate Award (J.D.)	Professor James J. Duane
Presentation of Class Gift & Faculty Awards	Bryan E. Stokke, 3L Executive President, Student Bar Association
Charge to Graduates	Dean Bradley J. Lingo
Introduction of Hooding	Dean Bradley J. Lingo
Hooding of Graduates	Associate Dean S. Ernie Walton Associate Dean Kimberly R. Van Essendelft Professor Louis W. Hensler, III
Graduate Testimonies
Invitation to Group Prayer	Dean Bradley J. Lingo
Closing Congregational Hymn “Regent, Host of Faith and Learning”	Law Chapel Praise Team
Adjournment***	Associate Dean S. Ernie Walton

*Please stand. / **Please see program for award listings. / ***Please permit the faculty to exit to the prayer stations.
Please see program for prayer group locations.

Arrival

Graduates should arrive at 7:45 a.m. for a group photo on the steps of the Administration Building. As soon as the picture is taken, the line-up will begin. Staff and Faculty Marshals will assist with the line-up. As we get closer to the event, approved graduates will be sent an email with additional details regarding the ceremony by Mary Bunch. Full academic regalia is required to participate in Commissioning. Please arrive wearing your academic cap, gown, and tassel and bring your hood. Your family and friends are invited; no tickets are needed for entry.

Parking

Parking will be available across campus, but we encourage you to park in the Communication Building parking lots (Lot L and K on the map). Due to various Commissioning ceremonies occurring throughout the day, please carpool if possible. View the Regent campus map.

All 2024 J.D., M.A., M.A. in Financial Planning;  LL.M., and B.A. in Law graduates previously approved for graduation by the University Registrar’s Office may participate in the Commissioning Ceremony. The deadline for approved graduates to RSVP for Commissioning and/or Commencement is March 31.  The final deadline to order regalia is March 31.

Oak Hall is Regent University’s personalized regalia provider. All students attending Commissioning and/or Commencement on campus MUST have Oak Hall regalia. No other regalia is permitted.

Please visit https://regent.shopoakhalli.com/purchasewizard/Welcome to place your regalia order.  The final deadline to order regalia is March 31.  

For students who ordered their regalia to be shipped to Regent University (last day to order – March 24), regalia must be picked up on campus at the Welcome Center, Divinity, Building Room 177.  View the Regent campus map.  Graduates must present their picture ID to pick up their regalia (caps, gowns, and tassels).

The Registrar’s staff will only release regalia to someone other than the graduate if they have received prior written consent from the graduate at registrar@regent.edu. Graduates must send this written consent from their Regent email account.

Graduates not attending the Commissioning Service may pick up their regalia the morning of Commencement, beginning at 8:00 a.m.; however, they are strongly encouraged to pick up their regalia in advance.

Regalia Pick Up

Tuesday, April 30; 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Welcome Center, Divinity Building Room 177

Wednesday, May 1; 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Welcome Center, Divinity Building Room 177

Thursday, May 2; 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Welcome Center, Divinity Building Room 177

Friday, May 3; 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Welcome Center, Divinity Building Room 177

Graduates who wish to ship their regalia to their residence must order regalia by March 31.

Graduates may not alter or decorate their regalia, including caps. However, the following student groups are permitted to wear honor cords during the Commissioning and Commencement exercises for the Law School as follows:

• Military Honor Cords – Please note how graduates can verify their military status and receive their cord.
• Student Government Cords
• Phi Alpha Delta Cords

Graduates must wear all regalia for the service (cap, gown, tassel, and hood). Gentlemen should wear button-down dress shirts and ties with dark trousers and dress shoes. Ladies should wear a dress, a skirt or dress pants and comfortable dress shoes. Please avoid wearing high heels. Please note that this service will involve extensive standing, walking across uneven brick pathways, and walking up stairs. Absolutely no sneakers, jeans, or t-shirts are permitted. Please be advised that men will need to remove their caps during prayer.

Graduates will not be permitted to carry anything—including purses, bags, umbrellas, or cameras—into the ceremony. Graduates should leave all belongings in their vehicles or with their guests. There is no place to store belongings prior to or during the service. Regent University is not responsible for lost or stolen belongings.

There are no ticket restrictions; therefore, physical tickets are not necessary. Seating is on a first come first served basis for guests, but there will be ample seating. The ceremony will be held outside, so please plan accordingly.

The RSVP portal for registering for Commissioning offered a field to note if a graduate needed special accommodations. If special accommodation is needed that was not noted on the form, please contact Mary Bunch, marybun@regent.edu.