2026 Graduation Celebration
Action items for students graduating this year:
✅ ASAP: Save this email address (colinpowellschool@communications.ccny.cuny.edu) to your contacts so you don’t miss any future communications from the comms team.
✅ Thursday, April 23: Last day to purchase your Cap and Gown online here.
✅ Wednesday, April 29: Last day to confirm your attendance to the Colin Powell School Graduation Celebration. Please RSVP here.
📌 Wednesday, May 6 at 12:00 PM (ET): Book your guest tickets for the Graduation Celebration. They will share a link to the ticketing portal via email the day prior.
📌 By Friday, May 15: Sign up here to get a free professional individual headshot on Capstone Day.
📌 By Saturday, May 16: RSVP to attend the MPA End-of-year celebration scheduled for Friday, May 22 where we’ll come together as a community to celebrate you.
📌 Thursday, May 28: Arrive on time for student check-in and make sure to wear your regalia. Please note that students without regalia will not be permitted to walk on stage.
Additional information:
Guest ticketing
Booking for guest tickets will open next Wednesday, May 6 at 12:00 PM.
You will receive a link to the ticketing portal via email the day prior. Please make sure to add colinpowellschool@communications.ccny.cuny.edu to your contacts so the email doesn't go to spam.
The number of available guest tickets will be confirmed at that time.
You will need your EMPLID to claim your tickets.
Seating is first come, first served: you will select your seats by clicking on dots on a seating map.
If you have requested seating accommodations, you will receive a separate email prompting you to book guest tickets on the first floor.
Graduation Celebration
Professor Ofronama Biu will be part of the platform party and will serve as the name reader for the MPA Program!
Many of you may be thinking of Sal (Cohort of 2023), who was unable to walk on stage last year. We are working with his family and the planning team to honor him at this year's celebration. We have requested that his name be read and that his mother be invited to walk on stage. I will share updates as I receive confirmation, but wanted to let you all know as I know he has been in many of your hearts, and in mine as well.
🎓The Colin Powell School Celebration Ceremony will take place Thursday, May 28 at the United Palace.
This ceremony includes graduate and undergraduate programs from the Colin Powell School. Here is the main page that gets updated. The info session video is a great resource that summarizes a lot of the information that I am sharing below.
Tentative Schedule (To be confirmed)
8:30 AM: Student check-in begins
9:30 AM: General/ guest admission begins
10:30 AM: Ceremony begins (following this order: PhD, MA and Undergraduate programs)
1:30/2pm: Projected end time
Timeline and Process Overview
Based on the number of students who RSVP as attending, the comms team will assign the number of guest tickets per student (dividing all remaining available seats after subtracting students and faculty in attendance).
The comms team will email all of you with instructions on how to claim your guest tickets. There will be a ticketing platform set up via the United Palace. This event will have assigned seating. Projected date: early May.
Tickets will be released on Wednesday, May 6th at 12:00 PM (ET); have your EMPLID ready. You will have until May 21 to claim your guest tickets. Projected date: early May.
Students can expect 3 guest tickets each (the exact number will be confirmed once all student RSVPs have been received).
Tickets can also be transferred between students, and a waitlist will be available in case you are interested in extra tickets.
Additional Notes
Regalia must be worn to walk on stage.
Students who still need to complete 1–2 summer electives may still participate, though the degree conferral date will be September instead of June.
Individual professional headshots will be offered on Tuesday, May 19, prior to the Capstone presentations, from 3:30–4:30 PM, with a professional photographer. Sign up here.
Page last updated on May 1, 2026.