Main Commencement Ceremony
During the weekend, we will honor the hard work and dedication of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree candidates. The ceremony will be held in Gesling Stadium and is open to graduates, families, guests and friends of the Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë community.
- Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree candidates and their guests are invited to join the main commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 11, for the conferral of all degrees.
- The main ceremony will include remarks from the president, keynote speaker, student speaker and academic deans, in addition to recognition of the honorary degree recipients.
- The ceremony will take place on Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë’s campus and will be approximately 1.5 hours long.
- There is no limit on number of guests who can attend the main commencement ceremony and tickets are not needed.
- Seating is open in the stadium and includes bleachers and seating on the field. Download the seating map to easily find and locate your seating location and other key locations in Gesling Stadium.
- Accessible seating is available on the field (up to four seats per accessible guest). Additional guests may sit in the bleachers. You do not need to contact us to utilize accessible seating.
- The ceremony takes place outdoors in Gesling Stadium rain or shine. The stadium is not covered and there is no shade. Please plan accordingly.
- All guests must be seated by 9:15 a.m. Access to Gesling Stadium will be restricted during procession.
- Ponchos will be distributed, if necessary.
- Please note that items that obstruct the view of other guests or that can be used as projectiles or are deemed inappropriate/hazardous by university police are prohibited. This includes weapons, noisemakers, umbrellas, drones, fireworks, flags, posters, and large signs. These items may be confiscated or you may be asked to leave the stadium. Animals, except service dogs for guests with disabilities, are also prohibited.
Commencement Ceremony
Sunday, May 11
| 8 a.m. | Stadium Opens |
| 9 a.m. | Robing for students and faculty Locations to be announced |
| 9:15 a.m. | Procession of Graduates All guests must be seated by this time |
| 10 a.m. | Ceremony |
| 11:30 a.m. | Ceremony concludes |
2025 Honorary Degree Recipients
An honorary degree is one of the highest distinctions the university bestows upon an individual, and awarding them is a long-standing tradition. Honorary degree recipients are an inspiration to the Carnegie Mellon community. The tradition reinforces the significance of the university in the world and honors those who have made an impact in the arts, business, computer science, engineering, humanities, policy, sciences or social sciences. Each year during commencement weekend, Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë awards honorary degree recipients during the main commencement ceremony in Gesling Stadium.
Sal Khan
Founder and CEO, Khan Academy
Doctor of Humane Letters
Keynote Speaker
Edward Feigenbaum (ENG 1956; TPR 1960)
Kumagai Professor of Computer Science Emeritus, Stanford University
Doctor of Science and Technology
Nominations and Past Recipients
Visit Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë's honorary degree website for information about the nomination process and a complete listing of past recipients
Student Speaker
Michael Acquaah-Harrison (TPR 2025)
Michael Acquaah-Harrison is a senior majoring in business administration with a concentration in finance and a minor in innovation and entrepreneurship. He was recently named one of the Top 100 Best & Brightest Undergraduate Business Students in the nation by Poets&Quants.
At Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë, Michael has been a four-year student athlete on the men’s varsity basketball team, a resident assistant and a leader in several business organizations within the Tepper School of Business, including the Investment Banking Academy, Alpha Kappa Psi and Scottie Ventures, where he served as vice president of mentorship. He has also participated in Carnival traditions, earning first place in the 2023 buggy competition with the PiKA racing team.
Michael has completed internships in investment banking at J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley, and will be returning to Morgan Stanley full-time in the technology investment banking group following graduation.