SCAD Atlanta 2021 Commencement
Congratulations, SCAD Class of 2021! Join us as we celebrate your accomplishments at the SCAD Atlanta Commencement ceremony.
View the full schedule of live events
In accordance with CDC guidelines, this year's experience will be split into two opportunities.
The Presidential Conferment of Degrees ceremony will take place digitally at 9 a.m. Friday, May 28, streaming live online and providing the limitless audience with a front-row seat. Links to the live broadcast will appear here and on scad.edu/commencement on the morning of the event. During this ceremony, students from all campus locations will unite to hear from dynamic keynote speakers, outstanding graduates, and special remarks from SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace as she confers degrees.
Following the morning ceremony, the Presentation of Degrees ceremony will take place as a socially distanced, outdoor, in-person event at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre (formerly Verizon Amphitheatre) in Alpharetta, where faculty representatives will call the names of graduates as they walk across the stage. This ceremony will include graduates from Atlanta and eLearning.
SCAD would like to recognize the achievements of the 2020 graduates during this on-ground Presentation of Degrees ceremony.
For those who choose not to attend in person, the Presentation of Degrees ceremony will also be streamed live online. Any 2021 graduate who does not attend the Presentation of Degrees ceremony in person will still be recognized.
Graduate registration
All graduating students, including participating 2020 graduates, must register to attend the in-person Presentation of Degrees ceremony. Under new CDC guidelines and state and local ordinances, and permission from the venue, SCAD is now able to offer two (2) additional guest tickets, for a total of four (4) guest tickets per graduate. Registration for additional tickets is now open.
Graduates who are interested in attending the in-person ceremony for their SCAD location, but have not yet registered, should do so as soon as possible to secure their spot.
Children ages 2 and under do not require a ticket for admission; however, they must sit in their parent/guardian's lap. Children over the age of 2 require a ticket for admission.
Schedule of events
Friday, May 28
All events will stream live in Eastern Time.
9 a.m. – Presidential Conferment of Degrees ceremony
Pre-show begins at 8:30 a.m.
Watch the replay of the 9 a.m. ceremony
1 p.m. – Class of 2021 Presentation of Degrees ceremony
Doors open at 11:30 a.m.
Watch the replay of the 1 p.m. ceremony
Welcome – Audra Price Pittman, vice president of SCAD Atlanta
Alumni remarks – Jules Premus (M.A., sequential art, 2018)
Excelsus laureate remarks – Katsy Garcia (M.F.A. illustration)
Presentation of Degrees
The names of graduates who are virtually attending will be announced at the beginning of each degree classification.
Outstanding graduates, Outstanding Academic Achievement Award – Nicole Costantini, professor of liberal arts
Master of Fine Arts – Carl Linstrum, professor of foundation studies
Master of Arts – Gina Kwok-Tischler, professor of fashion marketing and management
Bachelor of Fine Arts – David Spencer, professor of interactive design and game development; Gauri Misra-Deshpande, professor of advertising; Liset Robinson, associate chair of interior design; Adam Fristoe, professor of performing arts
Bachelor of Arts – Walter Bennett, professor of film and television
Closing remarks – Dale Clifford, dean of academics
6 p.m. – Class of 2020 Presentation of Degrees ceremony
Doors open at 5 p.m.
Watch the replay of the 6 p.m. ceremony
Welcome – Audra Price Pittman, vice president of SCAD Atlanta
Alumni remarks – Mahalia Latortue (M.F.A., film and television, 2020), 2020 SCAD Atlanta excelsus laureate
Special remarks – Michael Chaney, professor of film and television; Sarah Collins, professor of fashion
Presidential address – SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace
Presentation of Degrees
The names of 2020 graduates who are virtually attending will be announced at the end of the ceremony.
Outstanding graduates, Outstanding Academic Achievement Award, Master of Architecture, Master of Fine Arts, and Master of Urban Design – Honor Bowman, chair of fine arts
Master of Arts – Judy Salzinger, associate chair of advertising
Bachelor of Fine Arts – Ted Michalowski, professor of illustration; Ashwin Inamdar, professor of animation; Sarah Collins
Bachelor of Arts – Michael Chaney
Closing remarks – Bianca Townsend, industry and alumni engagement manager
Graduate registration and guest tickets
All graduating students, including participating 2020 graduates, must register to attend their designated in-person Presentation of Degrees ceremony. Under new CDC guidelines and state and local ordinances, and permission from the venue, SCAD is now able to offer two (2) additional guest tickets, for a total of four (4) guest tickets per graduate. Registration for additional tickets is now open.
Children ages 2 and under do not require a ticket for admission; however, they must sit in their parent/guardian's lap. Children over the age of 2 require a ticket for admission.
Registration is not required to view the digital Presidential Conferment of Degrees ceremony or each school's digital Presentation of Degrees ceremony as they stream live online. Any 2021 graduate who does not attend the Presentation of Degrees ceremony in person will still be recognized.
How to register:
- Select the proper link below, and enter your nine-digit SCAD ID number as your access key.
- Select your preferred number of guest tickets.
- Add your guests' names and have their tickets emailed directly to them (optional).
SCAD Atlanta 2021 Graduates (Fall 2020-Summer 2021):
Class of 2020 Alumni (Fall 2019-Summer 2020):
SCAD eLearning graduates and virtual enrollees
SCAD eLearning graduates are invited to participate in the Presentation of Degrees ceremony in Atlanta.
All other students are invited to participate in the on-ground Presentation of Degrees ceremonies as assigned by the SCAD location at which they are enrolled.
If you have any questions, contact [email protected] for more information.
Ticket allotment
For the Atlanta on-ground Presentation of Degrees ceremony, each graduate, including participating 2020 graduates, will now be allotted an additional two (2) tickets, for a total of four (4) guest tickets per graduate. Children ages 2 and under do not require a ticket for admission, however, they must sit in their parent/guardian's lap. Children over the age of 2 require a ticket for admission.
Ticket allotments are based on CDC guidelines and venue capacities. Due to recent changes in these guidelines, local and state ordinances, and permissions from the venue, the allotment has been increased. SCAD will notify graduates of the ticket-allotment change via email.
SCAD does not regulate the private redistribution of tickets and strictly forbids ticket selling.
Frequently asked questions for graduating students
General commencement
How do I share my commencement moments on social media?
Use #SCADGRAD and #SCAD2021 to share your experience. Be sure to tag and follow @scaddotedu.
When is the deadline to order a cap and gown?
The deadline to order is Friday, May 14. However, we encourage students to order their caps and gowns far in advance of this deadline to ensure that they receive them before the ceremony.
Do I need a cap and gown to participate?
If you plan to only attend the digital Presidential Conferment of Degrees ceremony, you are not required to purchase a cap and gown.
However, a cap and gown are required to participate in the on-ground Presentation of Degrees ceremony.
When can graduates expect to receive their diplomas?
During the ceremony, graduates will receive a congratulatory letter from President Wallace inside their SCAD diploma cover. The actual diploma will be mailed once spring grades are submitted and the student's graduation requirements are confirmed. Graduates can expect to receive their diploma within 12 weeks of commencement at the mailing address they provided on their graduation application.
Graduates of the Class of 2020 (Fall 2019–Summer 2020) received diploma covers at the all-digital ceremony last year and will not receive a second diploma cover this year.
Whom do I contact for more information about the ceremonies?
Email [email protected].
Digital Presidential Conferment of Degrees ceremony
Who is included in this ceremony?
Any student who is eligible for graduation can apply for and participate in the digital commencement experience, including students from Savannah, Atlanta, and eLearning.
Do I have to register to view the livestream?
You do not have to register to view the livestream of the Presidential Conferment of Degrees ceremony or the livestream of the Presentation of Degrees ceremony.
However, you must register if you plan to attend in-person at the Presentation of Degrees ceremony. Under new CDC guidelines, local and state ordinances, and permission from the venue, SCAD is now able to offer additional tickets. This gives graduates who have not yet registered to attend their designated in-person ceremony an extended opportunity to do so.
How do I access the ceremony?
Links to the live Presidential Conferment of Degrees ceremony and all the live Presentation of Degrees ceremonies will be available at scad.edu/commencement prior to the start of each ceremony.
Whom do I contact if I have issues streaming the ceremony (e.g., audio lagging)?
Contact [email protected] for assistance.
Can I share with my friends and family?
Yes, your friends and family can stream the experience with you on the main commencement page. You can also share your commencement experience using #SCADGRAD and by following @scaddotedu.
Presentation of Degrees ceremony
I already applied to graduate. Do I still need to register to attend the in-person ceremony?
Yes. Registration to participate in the socially distanced, on-ground ceremony is separate and required. Registering for your four (4) guest tickets lets us know that you plan to attend and helps us maintain safe seating and social distancing guidelines. Although registration is required, you do not need to claim a guest ticket for yourself.
Are you streaming the Presentation of Degrees ceremony?
Yes, all Presentation of Degrees ceremonies will be streamed live. Links to the livestream for each ceremony will be available on scad.edu/commencement prior to the start of each ceremony.
How many tickets will each graduate receive?
Each graduate will now be allotted an additional two (2) tickets, for a total of four (4) guests tickets per graduate due to changes in CDC guidelines and local and state ordinances.
To aid in the successful and safe planning of this year's commencement celebration, all graduating students should register as soon as possible to attend their in-person Presentation of Degrees ceremony.
Do I have to wear a mask?
Masks are required.
Where do I park?
Graduates are asked to park in Lot C, and guests are asked to park in Lot A.
Are you providing transportation from SCAD?
We will not be providing transportation from SCAD. However, free parking is available at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre.
What time should graduates plan to arrive?
An hour and a half prior to the start of the ceremony.
Where do I submit requests for ADA seating?
For any special seating requests for graduates and guests, email [email protected]. Be sure to include your name and SCAD ID number.
Frequently asked questions for guests
General commencement
How do I share my commencement moments on social media?
Use #SCADGRAD and #SCAD2021 to share your experience, and be sure to tag and follow @scaddotedu.
Whom do I contact for more information about the ceremonies?
Email [email protected].
Digital Presidential Conferment of Degrees ceremony
How do I access this?
Links to the live Presidential Conferment of Degrees ceremony and all the live Presentation of Degrees ceremonies will be available at scad.edu/commencement prior to the start of each ceremony.
Whom do I contact if I have issues streaming the ceremony (e.g., audio lagging)?
Contact [email protected] for assistance.
Presentation of Degrees ceremony
When do doors open?
Doors will open at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre an hour and a half prior to the start of the ceremony. You will need to bring either a printed ticket confirmation or a digital confirmation that includes the scannable QR code for entry.
Are you streaming the Presentation of Degrees ceremony?
Yes, all Presentation of Degrees ceremonies will be streamed live. Links to the livestream for each ceremony will be available on scad.edu/commencement prior to the start of each ceremony.
What is your security policy?
Guests may be requested to participate in a temperature check before entering the venue pending CDC guidelines at the time of the ceremony. All guests are required to pass through a metal detector or wand to ensure the safety of ceremony guests.
The following items are prohibited: weapons of any kind and any item that will obstruct the view or experience of other guests (e.g., balloons, signs, sound makers, etc.).
Do I have to wear a mask?
Masks are required.
Will seating at the venue be socially distanced?
Yes, seating is based on your graduate's ticket allotment, which has been increased from two (2) tickets to a total of four (4) guest tickets due to changes in CDC guidelines and local and state ordinances.
Your graduate should register for their additional two (2) guest tickets as soon as possible.
What is the bag policy?
Large bags, including but not limited to backpacks, suitcases, large camera bags, and large purses, are not allowed in the venue. All bags, purses, and packages are subject to inspection before entry to the venue.
Where do I park?
Graduates are asked to park in Lot C, and guests are asked to park in Lot A.
Are you providing transportation from SCAD?
We will not be providing transportation from SCAD. However, free parking is available at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre.
What is your weather plan?
The Presentation of Degrees ceremonies for both locations will be held rain or shine. As the venue is entirely outdoors with limited covered seating, we encourage guests to remain aware of the weather leading up to commencement and plan accordingly.