Graduation

Weekend Highlights

Social Work Consecration Service 
June 14, 4:00 p.m. | Scales Chapel
Guests are welcome to join the Social Work department in consecrating the program’s graduates for service to God and humanity.

Senior/Parent Refreshments
June 14, Immediately Following Vespers | Campus Mall outside the Campus Center
Graduating students and their families are welcome to stay for refreshments immediately following vespers.

Nursing Graduate Recognition Service
June 15, 4:00 p.m. | Sanctuary
All are invited to this special program, which will include nursing awards and the traditional nursing pinning ceremony.

Teacher Dedication Service
June 15, 4:00 p.m. | Scales Chapel
The Education department invites everyone to see teacher candidates dedicated at a special ceremony.

President's Reception
June 15, 5:30 p.m. | Dining Commons
Graduates and their families are invited to a reception with the President and faculty. A selection of graduates’ final projects will be displayed.  Light refreshments will be served.

General Announcements

Graduation Announcements

A representative from CB Announcements comes to PUC in February to assist seniors with ordering announcements.  Information will also be at the PUC Bookstore for you to review.  

Announcements may be ordered directly from the company. 

CB Announcements
P.O. Box 781
Manhattan, KS 66505-0781
800-433-0296
cbgrad.com

Once an order is placed, announcements are sent via ground shipping, which takes 5-7 days.  Overnight or two-day delivery is also available.  If you need to make changes to an existing order, call the toll free number and give your order number.  You may order more announcements after graduation, as there is no deadline for ordering. 

Seating 

There is an open seating plan for all weekend events. No more than 14 seats or one row per graduate family may be reserved. A person must be present and remain present to reserve seats. Seats may not be held past 11:05 a.m. for Baccalaureate; seats for Commencement may only be held from 6:00 a.m. until 8:50 a.m. 

Wireless Internet

PUC is pleased to offer complimentary wireless access to our guests. When you arrive on campus, select PUC WiFi 2.4 or 5.0, and follow the on-screen authentication instructions for guest registration. If you do not have Verizon cell phone service, we recommend you select the registration by email option.

Commencement 

Parking 
Guests should plan to arrive at least an hour early to find parking and seating. Guests may park on the main campus. A shuttle is available from Winning Hall to the graduation site. Overflow parking will be at the College Market on Howell Mountain Road.

Dress 
Weather can vary in June, from foggy and chilly to sunny and warm. Check the weather forecast and dress appropriately. Maxwell Commons is not entirely paved; please wear appropriate shoes.

Ceremony Etiquette 
Only service dogs accompanying their designated person are allowed at the Commencement ceremony. Emotional support animals and pets are not allowed on site. However, emotional support animals, dogs, and other pets will not be permitted to stay in cars unattended. Please do not use air horns and confetti. Celebratory tortillas should not be thrown toward the platform and only at appropriate times in the program. 

Lost and Found Policy
Any found items can be turned in to event staff throughout the weekend as well as to the Public Relations Booth on the day of Commencement.  To retrieve a lost item, contact event staff or visit the Public Relations booth during Commencement.  An information card is available if the item has not been turned in.  

In the event of a missing person, please report to the Public Relations booth with a description and/or picture.  Public Safety, as well as the County Sheriff, will be on duty to assist.

Webcast
Commencement will be streaming live, and will be available for download after the event.

Thai Orchid Leis

Reserve Thai Orchid Leis for a graduating friend or family member from PUC. Conveniently ready for pickup on gradation morning. Reserve online at www.thaigraduationorchidleis.com or call (805) 390-2623.

Graduates

Rehearsal

All candidates for degrees should meet at Maxwell Commons on Friday, June 14, at 11:00 a.m. (doughnuts at 10:30 a.m.). Once there, take a seat near the front so rehearsal can begin promptly. You will then receive further instructions. 

Nursing Rehearsal

All A.S. and B.S. candidates for nursing degrees should meet in the Church Sanctuary on Friday, June 16, promptly at 1:00 p.m.

Caps & Gowns

Those who participated in Senior Recognition already have their regalia. All others should obtain their caps and gowns from the bookstore by Thursday, June 14. To reduce wrinkling, hang the gowns as soon as possible. If ironing is necessary, use a cool iron. The gowns belong to you to keep or dispose.

Regalia Policy

Students, faculty, and staff in academic regalia may wear only approved honor cords, medallions, and stoles, as described in the Commencement program, or, in the case of faculty and staff, academic honors earned at other institutions. Graduation caps may be decorated; however, all other official regalia must not be altered or modified in any way. Graduates may also wear appropriate leis given to them.

Sabbath School

Seniors will present the program in the Sanctuary, but there will not be a processional. Those who must leave early to get their regalia for use during the Baccalaureate service should sit in an area from which they can leave inconspicuously.

Baccalaureate

Please be in line with regalia adjusted at 11:00 a.m. and ready to march into the sanctuary at 11:15 a.m. Candidates for graduation should assemble in the area between Paulin Hall and the church in two single lines, with the senior officers at the head of each. Students may choose the order in which they march, except that the two lines should be of equal length, and they are grouped with seniors wearing the same robe color. Seniors wearing black regalia will march first, followed by those in blue regalia and then white regalia. Men, please remember to remove your caps during prayer.

Nursing Graduate Recognition Service

All candidates for A.S. or B.S. degrees in nursing should meet in the Fireside Room by 3:00 p.m. to prepare for the service at 4:00 p.m. Participation in the Nursing Graduate Recognition Service is required. Those unable to attend must obtain written permission from the Chair of the Department of Nursing and Health Sciences no later than one week before graduation.

Commencement

A group picture will be taken at 8:15 a.m. on the stairs by the fountain. Immediately following the group picture, seniors are to go to the Paulin Hall auditorium and find their designated seat.   Each person must be in regalia (tassel on left) and positioned in the line of march as specified during the Friday practice. It is important that the line order correspond with the order in which the seniors present themselves for diplomas so the academic dean will read the correct name of each senior during the Commencement ceremony.

Photography

Professional Photography

GradImages® will be photographing all graduates at the graduation ceremony. Visit gradimages.com and enter your email and up to six emails of loved ones who would like to share in your accomplishment by viewing and ordering your photos. By submitting your information early, you can rest assured photo samples will be quickly and conveniently provided to you and all others registered as soon as they are available after the event. After graduation, order online at gradimages.com or call (800) 261-2576. 

Photography Tips

Photos in the Sanctuary

Other than during the processional, please do not use flash photography. The processional will take place down the center aisle. Please stay behind the rope boundaries.

Photos at Commencement

• Graduates will march down the left and right center aisles.  Check the seating chart board at the back of Maxwell Commons for your graduate’s marching side L or R.
• For pictures of your graduate actually receiving his/her diploma, please rely on the professional photographers. Other photographers are not allowed close to the stage or inside the rope boundaries.
• On the left side as you face the stage, the ropes will be close to where your graduate will come down the steps after receiving the diploma.
• Following the ceremony, graduates are requested to go directly to the academic department signs on the lawn area west of the ceremony area. Each graduate is to assemble under the sign according to his or her home department. Please meet at these locations for photos.

Travel

Driving Directions

Guests can fly into the following airports: Sacramento International Airport (SMF), San Francisco (SFO), Oakland (OAK). All airports are approximately 80-90 miles from the PUC campus. 

From San Francisco International Airport

• Go north on U.S. 101. Follow signs to the Bay Bridge (U.S. 80 east) toward Sacramento.
• Take U.S. 80 east after crossing the Bay Bridge. Cross the Carquinez Bridge.
• Turn off at the Napa, Marine World exit onto HWY 37.
• From HWY 37 turn right (going north) on HWY 29.
• Continue through the towns of Napa, Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford, and St. Helena. One mile past St. Helena, turn right on Deer Park Road, which turns into Howell Mountain Road. (8 miles to PUC)

From Oakland International Airport

• Take HWY 880 north. 
• Merge onto U.S. 80 east toward Sacramento. 
• Follow points 2-5 from above.

From Sacramento

• Take U.S. 80 west toward San Francisco to HWY 12.
• Take HWY 12 toward Napa to HWY 29.
• Turn right on HWY 29 and follow directions in number 5 above.

Distances to PUC 

• From San Francisco airport 87 Miles
• From Oakland airport 65 Miles
• From Sacramento airport 92 Miles
• From Napa 30 Miles

If traveling from Napa on the Silverado Trail instead of Hwy. 29 and using a GPS system, please do not follow directions to drive up Old Howell Mountain Road from the Silverado Trail. Instead, continue on the Trail until you reach the blinking red light. Turn right and proceed east on Deer Park Road.

Parking & Seating

Parking

Guests should plan to arrive at least an hour early to allow time to find parking and seating. Guests can park on the main campus. A shuttle is available from Winning Hall to the graduation site. Overflow parking will be at the College Market on Howell Mountain Rd.

Seating

There is an open seating plan for all weekend events. No more than 14 seats or one row per graduate family may be reserved. A representative must be present at all times to reserve seats. Seats may not be held past 11:05 a.m. for Baccalaureate; seats for Commencement may only be held from 6:00 a.m. until 8:50 a.m.

Lodging & Dining

Campus Housing

Graduating seniors may reserve one residence hall room to provide lodging for their families during graduation weekend. Extra rooms may be requested and will be assigned as space is available. Rooms are available beginning at 4 p.m. on Friday, June 14 and must be vacated by 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 16. All rooms assigned to graduating seniors are free of charge.

Residence hall rooms have two twin beds and do not come with linen. Bathrooms either are shared by adjoining rooms or are centrally located in the hall. Only service animals may accompany their designated person around campus. Emotional Support Animals and pets are not allowed in the residence halls.

Only graduating seniors may request campus housing. To reserve a room, graduates may download the housing reservation form or pick it up from the reception desk in their residence hall. Graduates must return the completed housing reservation form to the reception desk in their residence hall by Thursday, May 30. Off-campus graduates should turn the completed housing reservation form to the reception desk at Winning Hall. 

Area Hotels

Lodging is available in the Napa Valley, as well as the surrounding area. See a list of available accommodations. 

Recreational Vehicles

Recreational vehicles may be parked in the parking lot behind the College Market. There are no hookups available. Shower facilities in the gymnasium will be available to guests and a disposal station is located in the mobile home park.

Dining in the Napa Valley

From local favorites to renowned fine dining establishments, below is a list of St. Helena restaurants. See more Napa Valley dining options. 

$ - Affordable ($5-$15 per person)
$$ - Moderately Affordable ($15-$30 per person) 
$$$ - Expensive ($30+ per person)
$$$$ - Very Expensive ($90+ per person)

A&W/KFC $ 
The closest thing to “fast food” in St. Helena. Lunch and dinner. 501 Main St., St. Helena, (707) 963-4333

Archetype $$$
Locally farmed American meals are the draw at this stylish neighborhood eatery with outdoor seating. 1429 Main St., St. Helena, (707) 968-9200

Azteca Market $
A taqueria and Hispanic mini-market where you can order burritos, tacos, etc. Most people do take-out, but there are a few tables on the patio. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 89 M

Dean & Deluca $$$
Sells prepared foods as well as produce from local farms, cheese by local artisans, and international foods and products. 607 St Helena Hwy S., St Helena, (707) 967-9980

Gillwoods $$
Best breakfast in town and diner-style lunches; expect long lines on weekends for breakfast. 1313 Main St., St. Helena, (707) 963-1788

Giugni's Deli $
PUC’s favorite deli, serving quite possibly the best sandwiches in the world. 1227 Main St., St. Helena, (707) 963-3421

Golden Harvest Restaurant $
Traditional, family-style Chinese restaurant. 61 Main St., St. Helena, (707) 967-9888

Gott’s Roadside (formerly Taylor’s Refresher) $$
St. Helena’s world famous, up-scale burger stand. 933 Main St., St. Helena, (707) 963-3486

Himalayan Sherpa Kitchen $$
Nepalese & Indian specialties are featured in relaxed, upscale surrounds with a sidewalk patio. 1148 Main Street, St Helena, (707) 963-4439

La Prima Pizza $$
Excellent middle-American pizza with chewy crust, tasty sauce, and plenty of toppings. Lunch and dinner. 1010 Adams St., St Helena, (707) 963-7909

Model Bakery 
Local artisan bread and pastries as well as sandwiches, pizza, and coffee. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 1357 Main St., St Helena, (707) 963-8192

Pizzeria Tra Vigne $$
Pizzas, pastas, and piadines in a casual atmosphere. 1020 Main St., St. Helena, (707) 967-9999

The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone $$$ 
The dazzling restaurant space, created by noted designer Adam Tihany, offers a view of the chefs at work from every hand-crafted table. 2555 Main St., St Helena, (707) 967-1010

Villa Corona $
A favorite among students for fat, tasty burritos. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 1138 Main St., St Helena, (707) 963-7812 

Dining Commons

You may use a Student ID Card or purchase meal tickets ahead of time for Friday dinner, Sabbath breakfast, and Sabbath lunch by registering for meals. Cash and credit cards are also accepted. Meal tickets can be purchased in advance.

Hours of operation

Thursday, June 13
7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Friday, June 14
Breakfast: 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Dinner: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Sabbath, June 15
Breakfast: 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Lunch: 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Sunday, June 16
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.