Commencement Weekend

We’re thrilled to welcome guests of our graduates to join us for all Commencement Weekend events!

There’s no limit to the number of guests you can bring, but please keep in mind that seating operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Especially for Baccalaureate on Friday at the Irvine Memorial Chapel, we recommend arriving early to secure your seats. Commencement will start at 10 a.m. on the platform between Keil Hall and South Cottage, with seating opening at 8 a.m. We kindly ask for your cooperation in allowing our staff time to prepare for this joyous occasion prior to 8 a.m.

Weather permitting, our seniors will graduate on the Commencement Platform (between Keil Hall and South Cottage).

In case of inclement weather, we’ll relocate the ceremony to the Hale Field House.

We’re here to assist! If any of your family members have mobility concerns, please reach out to Mercersburg’s event team at events@mercersburg.edu or call 717-328-6363. We want to ensure everyone’s comfort and accessibility throughout the weekend. While all of our spaces are handicap accessible, we can help you plan your time on campus to make the process as easy as possible. 

Yes, both ceremonies will be available via livestream, and recordings will be available after the fact. Baccalaureate on Friday, May 24, is available at this link, and the Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 25, is available at this link. If you or a member of your party are feeling unwell for either of these events or you are unable to attend in person for any reason, we encourage you to enjoy the ceremonies virtually.  

For Baccalaureate, please note that the chapel is not air-conditioned and can get quite warm. Lightweight fabrics are often helpful in managing the warm conditions. For the Commencement activities on Saturday, please dress appropriately for the weather. The platform is in direct sunlight, so hats, sunglasses, and lightweight fabrics are often helpful. We encourage you to keep an eye on the local weather closer to the date.

We will have a photographer on campus for the Commencement ceremony, and she will be tasked with two things. First, she will get a photo of each student standing on the steps of the graduation platform with the diploma. Second, she will take candid photos of the general experience before, during, and after Commencement. All photos will be uploaded to Vidigami, where parents can select photos and order directly from Vidigami or download and order through another service.

While there is a dinner on campus from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m., students are welcome to go out to dinner with their families. Please be sure to return to campus no later than 11 p.m. We request that students who wish to go out to dinner before or after the Baccalaureate service complete a day trip leave request no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, May 24, in their Veracross student portal. Please note “dinner off campus” and list specific transportation plans. Students who plan to go to dinner before the Baccalaureate service should be back to line up 30 minutes prior to the service beginning.

While we encourage seniors to return to campus for their final night as a student at Mercersburg Academy, we understand some families may wish to host their senior overnight at their nearby hotels. These requests should be submitted as an overnight leave request no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, May 24, in their Veracross student portal. Please note “overnight off campus” and list specific transportation and lodging plans in the request. Students in 9th, 10th, and 11th grade are not permitted to spend the night off campus on Friday, May 24.

All leave requests should be fully approved prior to the student leaving. As always, when students leave campus, they must do a virtual checkout. Please keep in mind all of our school values and rules apply, including our expectation that there is to be no consumption of alcohol by students during this weekend. Again, we hope you will partner with us in making these special times happy, healthy, and safe.

Seniors should be mostly packed and their rooms tidy before departing for the senior trip. Families can pick up belongings on Friday or Saturday around the Baccalaureate service and Commencement ceremony, ensuring their senior is present during the move-out process. All seniors must vacate the dormitories by 2 p.m. on Saturday.