• Northland College Diploma

    Class of 2025 Ceremony

    Saturday, May 24, 2025

Commencement

Reaching a milestone.

Last updated on May 22, 2025. While some information has changed since it was first published, the date of the Commencement Ceremony itself has remained the same.

Livestream Information
The Last Lecture and Commencement Ceremony will both be livestreamed. Links to join them can be found in the Commencement schedule below on this page. View the schedule.

Join us to celebrate the Class of 2025 at Northland College’s 114th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Families and friends are welcome and invited to attend and celebrate together.

The Commencement Ceremony is an important milestone in the lives of our graduating seniors, and it is our hope that family and friends will share in this experience. One of the special qualities of Northland is the genuine friendship that students, faculty, and staff share.

Please continue to check this page for updates; all events are subject to change. If you have any questions, please email commencement@northland.edu.

Important Construction Update
Our campus is located on Ellis Avenue/WI 13, which is currently under construction. The road remains open with lane and intersection closures. Entrances to the Larson-Juhl Center for Science and the Environment/Fenenga Hall and Wakefield Hall parking lots are closed, but our main entrance is still open. Please pay attention to construction signage and allow extra time to get to campus. You can learn more on the State of Wisconsin’s project page, which is not always updated in real time.

Know the Details

Commencement Information

Schedule

Commencement events are open to all unless otherwise noted below.

Friday, May 23, 2025

Commencement Rehearsal
1:30 p.m. • Chapple Family Gymnasium
Attendance by graduates is required.
Last Lecture
4 p.m. • Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Good Shepherd’s address is 311 13th Street West, Ashland, WI 54806. It is just north of Fenenga Hall.
This event will also be livestreamed.
The livestream feed will start shortly before the event begins. You can return to this page to find it, or save or bookmark the following link. View the Last Lecture Livestream.

Presented by Dylan Jennings, associate director of the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute, this event offers a moment of reflection and inspiration from a faculty member chosen by the graduating class. This year’s Last Lecture is entitled “Community, and the Inter-generational Laws of Kindness.” Hosted by the Northland College Student Association (NCSA), the address invites graduates and guests to pause, look back on their journey, and look ahead with purpose.

Senior Champagne Toast
5 p.m. • Campus Mall
The Campus Mall is the grassy area outside of the Ponzio Campus Center opposite the side facing the parking lot.

Join us for a celebratory gathering to raise a glass in honor of the Class of 2025.

The Confluence
6 p.m. • Howard Pearson Plaza
H. Pearson Plaza is in downtown Ashland right behind Ashland City Hall (between City Hall and Lake Shore Drive West where the pedestrian underpass is). The address for Ashland City Hall is 601 Main Street West, Ashland, WI 54806.

The Confluence is a unique tradition that brings together graduates, faculty, and staff in recognition of their time at Northland. This event is sponsored by NCSA.

Saturday, May 24, 2025

Graduate Check-in
9–10 a.m. • Chapple Family Gymnasium

Graduates are required to check in with the registrar’s table.

Graduate Check-in is for graduates only.
Robe and Line-up
10:30 a.m. • Chapple Family Gymnasium

Please be in the gym wearing your regalia by 10:30 a.m. to line up for the procession to Commencement. Do not leave anything of value, as the building will not be locked during the Ceremony.

Robe and Line-up is for graduates only.
Commencement Ceremony and Reception
11 a.m. (venue opens at 10 a.m.) • Ponzio Stadium
In the event of inclement weather, the Commencement Ceremony will be held in the Chapple Family Gymnasium.
This event will also be livestreamed.
The livestream feed will start shortly before the event begins. You can return to this page to find it, or save or bookmark the following link. View the Commencement Ceremony Livestream.

Join us for the culminating event of the academic year as we honor and celebrate our graduates alongside their families, friends, and the campus community. The program will feature remarks from Alumni Board President Madeline Jarvis ’03 and student speaker Grace Smathers. Following the Ceremony, refreshments will be available in the Chapple Family Gymnasium. This year’s reception will be held in the spirit of the beloved Everybody Party—a joyful, inclusive celebration for all. All are welcome!

Gown Pickup

Commencement gowns will be available for pickup on the second floor of the Ponzio Campus Center during the week of Commencement.

Pickup Times

  • Tuesday–Thursday, May 20–22: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
  • Friday, May 23: 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

If you have questions about Commencement gowns, please email commencement@northland.edu.

Student Responsibilities

Only students who have completed or registered for all course requirements or those who show evidence that all requirements will be met by August 2025 will be allowed to participate in the Commencement Ceremony.

Review graduation requirements for further information.

Tickets and Guests

Tickets are not required for any of the events. Currently, there is no restriction on the number of guests a student may invite. Seating is on a first come, first served basis.

Invitations

Students may create or use any vendor to order their own invitations.

Special Accommodations or Assistance

Any student, family member, or guest needing special assistance and/or reasonable accommodations (wheelchair access, physical disability, etc.) should email commencement@northland.edu prior to the ceremony to make arrangements.

Find Lodging

Hotels Near Northland College

Family and friends are encouraged to make reservations early because of our community’s busy tourist season.

AmericInn Motel and Suites
3009 Lake Shore Drive East
Ashland, WI 54806
866-378-9950

Best Western The Hotel Chequamegon*
101 Lake Shore Drive West
Ashland, WI 54806
715-682-9095
*There may be a discount if you mention you are attending Northland College’s Commencement.

Blue Wave Inn
2521 Lake Shore Drive West
Ashland, WI 54806
715-685-2583

Cobblestone Inn & Suites
818 Main Street West
Ashland, WI 54806
715-682-5066

River Rock Inn
1200 Lake Shore Drive West
Ashland, WI 54806
715-682-3232

Super 8 of Ashland
1610 Lake Shore Drive West
Ashland, WI 54806
715-682-9377

Order Commencement Photos

GradImages is the official photographer for Northland College Commencement. Photos will be ready 48–72 hours following Commencement. Visit their website to view Commencement photos.