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Part of Western Governors University

October 21 & 22 Commencement Weekend in St. Louis

Bachelor's and Master's Ceremony

Keynote Speaker

Maxine Clark

Maxine Clark is the Founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop®, a teddy-bear themed retail-entertainment experience. In 2004, Build-A-Bear became a public company traded on the NYSE. Today there are over 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide and over 200 million stuffed animals have been sold world-wide. In 2022, Build-A-Bear will celebrate its 25th anniversary.

Maxine stepped down from her CEB (Chief Executive Bear) position in 2013 to start her next act-- to help unleash the potential of women and minority entrepreneurs and to use her entrepreneurial skills to create platforms and places that give access to more

St. Louis families. Her latest venture is the Delmar DivINe™—the transformation of a neighborhood eyesore, the historic St. Luke’s Hospital, into a multi-use real estate development opened in late 2021.

Maxine is a Founding Managing Director of Prosper Women’s Capital, a St. Louis based accelerator for women led businesses, the Board of Advisors of Lewis and Clark Ventures and an advisor to the TxO Fund. Maxine is a member of the Build-A-Bear Workshop Board of Directors and a recent past member of Footlocker, Inc. Board of Directors. Maxine is also an Emeritus member of the Washington University Board of Trustees and a board member of Barnes Jewish Hospital, Goldfarb School of Nursing, Operation Food Search, New America, and PBS national Nine PBS boards. In 2017 Maxine was named to the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame and in 2015 was named Women of the Year by the Greater Missouri Leadership Foundation.

Maxine is a graduate of the University of Georgia and holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from St. Louis University and an Honorary Doctor in Human Letters from the University of Missouri St. Louis and an Honorary Associates degree from St. Louis Community College

She lives in Clayton, MO with her husband Bob Fox


Graduate Speakers

Antonio Taylor

Life-long Memphis resident Antonio Taylor has a passion for information technology and currently serves as the Director of Technical Services and Infrastructure for Transnetyx. 

Antonio leads development and IT Infrastructure strategies of major organizations through transformational expansion and change. He earned his MBA in Information Technology Management from WGU in 2018. 

Antonio is actively involved in leadership and community activities in the Memphis area and currently serves as a board member for SIM Memphis.

When not working, Antonio loves spending time traveling with his wife, photography, watching WWE wrestling, and finding children to spoil.

Rebecca Taylor

After six years of working as a paraprofessional, Rebecca Taylor became a Special Education (SE) teacher in 2021. This role has given her the opportunity to fulfill her goal of building meaningful relationships with her students. She currently works as a middle school special education teacher at an online charter school.

A 2021 graduate of WGU, Rebecca loved the university’s online model which allowed her to work, be home with her family, go to school and complete her program in two years. Receiving her bachelor's degree and related credentials in an online program motivated her to continue in an online setting with her career.  

A mother of three, Rebecca enjoys reading, camping, swimming, and snowboarding. She also enjoys taking her family to Disneyland and to the beach. Her favorite season is football season (Go Big Red and Go Hawks!)


Anthem Singer

Micah Lambert

Micah Lambert is a die-hard fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, theatre, traveling, and music of all genres. Having traveled the United States extensively as a vocalist prior to becoming a nurse, Micah now lends his vocals to the premier LGBTQ+ vocal groups in St. Louis, the Gateway Men's Chorus, where he is a former board member, and the Black Tulip Chorale.

Micah currently manages the Medical ICU at Saint Louis University Hospital, where he finds joy in leading an incredible team of clinicians dedicated to providing the very best care for all patients and their families. Micah has been a Registered Nurse since 2009 and is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau nursing honor society.

Having served in various leadership roles since his graduation in 2009, Micah decided to enhance that experience and education by enrolling in the WGU RN-MSN Leadership and Management studies and completed those studies in July 2021 where his capstone project, Enhancing the Patient Experience Through Employee Engagement, won the capstone excellence award and is now archived at WGU.  

Being fully impressed with the learning format of WGU and not being satisfied with just one masters, Micah subsequently enrolled in the Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management program, finishing those studies in September 2022.  

"WGU was exactly what I needed, when I needed it. I cannot express how much I appreciate the learning format of WGU, the program mentors, the fantastic course instructors, and the ancillary support departments that made my time at WGU such a tremendous success!  10 out of 10, would recommend!"

Alumni Celebration in St. Louis

Friday, October 21, 7:00-9:00pm CT

Kick off your commencement weekend with this exclusive alumni celebration in honor of our graduates!

All graduates and families who are attending the 2022 WGU Commencement in St. Louis are invited to join us for the Alumni Celebration at the St. Louis Science Center. Be sure to visit the WGU Sage Coach out front, during the festivities!

This family-friendly event is free to attend and will provide grads and their guests opportunities to connect, enjoy light refreshments, take photos, play games, explore the exhibits and dance the night away! We encourage graduates and guests to dress in business casual attire. Come for the celebration, stay for the fun:

  • Take photos in our social photo booth and share using #WGUgrad.
  • Meet Sage the Night Owl!
  • Visit our affiliated partnership booths to receive career advice, purchase WGU swag, refer a friend, pick up your WGU Philanthropy Cord, and more.
  • Hit the dance floor or play family-friendly games with a fun WGU twist!
  • Enjoy light refreshments and cash bars. 
  • Participate in our passport activity for a chance to win a gift code to the WGU Online Store.
  • Explore the St. Louis Science Center 

Contact Information

WGU Alumni Celebration contact: alumni@wgu.edu

WGU Alumni Celebration ADA and accessibility: alumni.community@wgu.edu

WGU Commencement questions: commencement@wgu.edu

Parking Information

Please review parking information by clicking here.  Parking on site is $12.

Share your night in pictures & posts using #WGUgrad

Date: October 21, 2022

Time: 7-9 pm, CT

Location:
St. Louis Science Center
5050 Oakland Ave
St. Louis, MO 63110

Hotel Discounts

Renaissance Hotel

Marriott St. Louis Grand
800 Washington Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63101
(314) 621-9600

Must book by: Deadline Passed
Parking: $30 self-parking - $44 Valet

Cancellation: Reservations subject to a 72-hour cancellation policy. Deposit is refundable up to 72 hours prior to arrival. Cancellations 72 hours from the time of arrival will forfeit the one night’s room and tax deposit.

*Subject to availability, limited quantity available.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

WGU Commencement in St. Louis FAQs

The WGU Commencement in St. Louis, Missouri is scheduled to take place Saturday, October 22, 2022.

A commencement guidebook will be emailed to each graduate with check-in details, parking, map, and much more.

Graduates may bring up to 8 guests. Please note, venue seating capacity is subject to change due to the fluid situation of COVID-19 and as mandated by state and CDC guidelines. 

Depending on the location, tickets may be required. Please check your commencement guidebook for details.

 

Generally, the commencement ceremony lasts 2 hours. 

Only the names of graduates who physically attend and participate in the commencement ceremony will have their names read. 

Yes, here are the key deadlines:

Speaker Deadline – Friday, August 26, 2022

Anthem Deadline – Friday, September 2, 2022

Cap & Gown Deadline – Friday, September 30, 2022

RSVP Deadline – Friday, September 30, 2022

 

Yes, however, due to limited aisle space, strollers are not permitted in seating sections or in the wheelchair cutouts. Space will be designated (via signage) for stroller parking.

Please arrive dressed in your cap and gown for the commencement ceremony. Due to the number of graduates and schedule, it is not practical to change into regalia at the venue.

wgu.edu/2022stlouisweekend

The commencement photos are usually available 2-3 weeks after commencement. Those photos will be available for viewing at https://thegradteam.com/events/wgu/

Did you know that WGU Alumni have access to hundreds of discounts? Log in to BenefitHub to search for deals on flights, hotels, car rentals, and more.

Ceremony Participation & RSVP FAQs.

Graduates who wish to participate in an in-person or virtual commencement ceremony must complete two steps. 

  1. Submit either your Graduation Application or be enrolled in and only have your final course remaining, such as capstone, final certification, or demonstration teaching. 
  2. Submit an RSVP via the commencement web site (available at wgu.edu/commencement).  

To RSVP, you must have either your Graduation Application submitted to the Student Records department or be enrolled in your final course, such as capstone, final certification, or demonstration teaching. If you don’t currently meet this requirement, wait to RSVP until the requirement is met.

Students who are enrolled in their final course may submit an email to commencement@wgu.edu with "Final Course" in subject line along with desired commencement ceremony. 

Please review the commencement participation guidelines located in the student handbook, which outlines the eligibility for commencements. 

After a graduate submits the ceremony RSVP form, a confirmation email is sent to the email address listed on the completed RSVP form. Please check your junk box. If you do not see a confirmation email for your ceremony RSVP. Please contact us at commencement@wgu.edu with additional questions. 

Yes. There is not a time limit on when a graduate may walk in a commencement. However, graduates may only participate in one commencement ceremony per degree program completed.

No, but you may watch the commencement ceremony for free on the WGU YouTube channel.

Yes, the ceremony RSVP form is a separate process from the graduation application. The completion of the ceremony RSVP form reserves your seat at commencement and generates your name card for the announcer. 

No. Once registration has closed, no late additions, including day of (walk-up) will be permitted.

Click on the RSVP button on this page.

Please visit the upcoming commencement web page.

Graduates may walk in one commencement ceremony per degree. As of January 2022, a graduate may participate in one ceremony per degree, either a virtual or in-person ceremony.

WGU plans to hold multiple in-person and virtual ceremonies in the 2023 calendar year! Please keep an eye out for the 2023 Commencement locations and dates that will be released later this year. Please bookmark wgu.edu/commencement where next year’s commencement schedule will be posted. You can also sign up to be notified via email when the 2023 Commencement Schedule is released.  We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Photos from each commencement ceremony will be available for purchase through our photography partner The Grad Team in the week following each commencement. All photos can be viewed on their website here.

Regalia FAQs.

Everything you need to know about your cap, tassel, gown, and hood.

Oak Hall Cap and Gown is the official regalia vendor (caps, gowns, and hoods) for WGU. The official regalia color for graduates is navy. 

For bachelor’s degree, post-baccalaureate teacher programs, or endorsement preparation program (English Language Learning), you should order a cap, bachelor's gown, and tassel. For those earning a master's degree or endorsement preparation program (Educational Leadership), you should order a cap, master's gown, tassel, and a master's hood.

Visit the WGU-Oak Hall Cap and Gown website to place your order, or call 1-800-456-7623 and ask for the Web Department. 

You can order a tassel at the WGU-Oak Hall Cap and Gown website, or by calling 1-800-456-7623 and ask for the Web Department.

Yes, WGU graduates affiliated with an honor society may wear society pins or honor cords/sashes on their gowns. Teacher graduates affiliated with the WGU chapter of the international honor society of Kappa Delta Pi (KDP) may order honor cords at http://www.kdp.org.    

The following hoods are available for purchase at the WGU-Oak Hall Cap and Gown website:

Education - blue
Business (all MBAs) - drab
Information Technology - gold
Nursing – apricot
Integrated Healthcare Management - salmon
Master of Health Leadership - sage green

Prior to the conferral of degrees, bachelor's degree graduates wear the tassel on the right while master's degree graduates wear their tassel on the left for the entire commencement ceremony.

A graduate should wear academic attire appropriate to the awarded degree. The master's gown differs from a bachelor's gown. If you already have a cap and tassel, you can order a master's gown as an individual item on the WGU-Oak Hall Cap and Gown website. Please note that the academic attire for a master's graduate includes a cap, tassel, master's gown, and hood. 

WGU graduates who are veterans or active-duty military will be provided with a military honor cord. For virtual commencements, cords will be shipped to the address provided on their RSVP. For in-person commencements, cords will be picked up at graduate check-in. On your RSVP form, please mark that you are a veteran or on active duty.

Graduates are permitted to decorate their caps and wear sashes with their regalia. Take into consideration the following if decorating your cap or wearing a sash for commencement: 

WGU does not allow content on caps or sashes that is considered, in WGU’s sole discretion, obscene, vulgar, defamatory, hateful, inappropriate, profane or that might disregard another’s copyright or third-party rights. All decorations must lie flat on the cap.

Philanthropy Cord FAQs.

The WGU Philanthropy Cord is a blue and gold cord for graduates to wear with their cap and gown on commencement day. The philanthropy cord is not only a physical symbol of a graduate’s commitment to WGU, but it also more importantly supports a legacy that will last for future generations of WGU.

Graduates can receive a philanthropy cord by making a gift of $25 or more to WGU’s Fellow Night Owl Scholarship, a fund established to help current WGU students facing financial hardship cross the finish line to graduation. To donate, graduates can text “WGUCord” to 41-444 or visit this link.

All WGU Philanthropy Cord donations support WGU’s Fellow Night Owl Scholarship, a fund established to help current WGU students facing financial hardship cross the finish line to graduation. We are asking for $25 in honor of WGU’s 25th anniversary! 

For in-person commencements, philanthropy cords may be picked up by visiting the WGU Advancement table at the Alumni Celebration or during graduate check-in before commencement. If the in-person commencement is canceled, philanthropy cords will be mailed to participating graduates following an official cancellation notice.

 

For virtual commencements, philanthropy cords will be mailed to the graduate prior to the ceremony date.

WGU founded WGU Advancement in 2018 as its official fundraising arm dedicated to attracting, allocating, and putting dollars to work so more students have access to an affordable, quality education. WGU Advancement’s operation is the next step in WGU’s ever-growing obsession with students’ success, and a way for the increasing number of WGU graduates, donors, and partners to pay it forward.

Thank you for your generous support! You can donate to the Fellow Night Owl Scholarship by texting “WGUGrad” to 41-444 or by visiting this link. 

Letter of Invitation for Abroad & Commencement Announcements FAQs

Yes, students may send an email to records@wgu.edu with the family member's full name, relationship to the student, and foreign address. Once provided, the Records Department will prepare documents containing information about the commencement and student's earned degree. These prepared letters will then be sent to the student to forward them to the correct parties. It may take 5-10 business days for the letters to be mailed to the student.

Jostens is the current provider for commencement announcements.

Graduation Application & Diploma FAQs.

Visit the graduation application page in the student handbook for the most current information on how to apply for graduation. 

Visit the graduation application page in the student handbook for the most current information on how to receive your diploma.