CALS Student Speaker: Submission Deadline 4/15

The College of Agriculture & Life Sciences invites graduating students to submit for the honor of speaking to all May 2020 graduating students, friends, and family.

The selected speaker will be part of a dynamic virtual experience that will be live streamed on Friday, May 15, 2 pm AZ time via the CALS Facebook page. The speech will be pre-recorded and embedded into the live-streamed CALS graduation video.

Follow these 3 steps to apply to be the CALS Student Speaker:

Reflect on your time in CALS and the UA.
Draft a 2-3 minute speech that shares what your education in CALS and the University has meant to you and what the future might hold for you and your classmates.
Submit your draft speech by Wednesday, April 15, 2020 at 11:59 pm AZ time

New: Submit Your Celebration Video!

It's your time to shine and thank those who helped you succeed! Complete the CALS Virtual Graduation Student Recognition form (login with your UA email) to be individually highlighted during the ceremony! All students - undergraduate and graduate - are encouraged to submit the following:

A Thank You Message
Summary of Your Involvement
A celebration video sharing a word of wisdom!
Submission deadline: Sunday, April 19, 2020 at 11:59 PM AZ time. The deadline will not be extended.

Submit the CALS Virtual Graduation Student Recognition Form

(login with your UA email)

What's the Celebration Video all About? You!

In CALS, we've recognized students individually on a slide shown during our in-person graduation ceremonies. Now, with the virtual graduation convocation, we're able to incorporate user-submitted videos as well!

All graduating students are encouraged to submit a video - it will become part of the overall CALS livestreamed graduation convocation and will be available online for all to see!!

3 Steps for Recording Your Celebration Video

Use your phone, holding it up vertically, and follow these three steps -

Look straight into the camera and make sure to show your entire face for at least ten seconds.
--Be happy, celebrate, laugh, smile, dance, throw your hands up in the air, hug your pet, wear a graduation cap/gown/UA shirt.
--We encourage you to be creative and have fun as this clip will be used when your name is shown in the commencement video. Graduate students may want to consider having a family member hood them! When finished do not stop recording - move on to step 2
Look straight into the camera and say/complete the following sentence "My one word of wisdom is ________" When finished do not stop recording - move on to step 3
Look straight into the camera and Bear Down!

Video Submission

Label your video Last Name, First Name and then submit by 4/19 through the CALS Student Recognition Form!

UA Commencement: Updates Starting Friday, 4/10

University Commencement

We have heard tremendous student and stakeholder feedback this week – thank you all for your energy and commitment. Our team continues evaluating what a postponed main ceremony could look like in the future and preparing for the streaming graduation experience on May 15, 2020.

We know times are still uncertain but the message is clear, the Class of 2020 will be honored in a combination of ways and we hope you will join us for any and all of them! Check back Friday, April 10, 2020, for more updates.

Visit UA Commencement

Graduation Regalia

The CALS May 2020 virtual graduation experience will debut on Facebook specifically because we want to encourage engagement, celebration, and sharing for graduates and their guests. If you already have your regalia you can opt to keep it and wear it during the CALS virtual graduation experience and/or the CALS in-person ceremony on Friday, October 30, 2020.

Per the UA Bookstores: “Cap and gowns purchased before March 20, 2020 are eligible for full refunds in their original package.” If the package is open, the recommendation is to contact the BookStores directly.

View the full announcement from the UA BookStores

Questions? Ideas?

Share your questions, ideas, and suggestions with us! Your input will ensure all May 2020 celebratory events remain student-focused! Email advising@cals.arizona.edu.