Friday, March 20: Last day to apply for graduation to get your name in the Commencement Ceremony program — apply by 11:59 p.m.

Once a student has applied for graduation, they are invited to attend and walk during SLCC's annual Commencement Ceremony. Registration for ceremony event tickets is not necessary for graduates or their guests.

Apply for graduation

Grad Fest: Everything You Need. All in One Place.

SLCC's Commencement Ceremony is almost here — and Grad Fest is your first step toward walking the stage.

Connect with fellow grads, snap some photos, grab your gear, and get your questions answered by SLCC staff. Let's make your final semester count.

Event Details

SLCC Class of 2026 — you and your guests are invited!

Pick the day that works for you and drop in anytime between 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. No appointment needed.

Wednesday, March 18 10 a.m. – 6 p.m
Thursday, March 19 10 a.m. – 6 p.m

Taylorsville Campus
4600 South Redwood Road
Student Center, Main Floor – Student Event Center

Why You Should Attend?

Grad Fest is your graduation headquarters.

• Pick up your cap and gown (plus any honor cords you've earned)
• Still need to apply for graduation? SLCC encourages student to apply online in advance to save time.
• Order graduation announcements
• Get commencement details directly from SLCC staff
• Skip the stress. Get it done early.

FREE REGALIA KIT? YES — REALLY. 🎓

If you're part of the Class of 2026, make sure you stop by Grad Fest to grab your FREE commencement regalia kit.

Students who graduated Fall 2025 or will graduate Spring or Summer 2026 are invited to pick up:

Your free SLCC graduation essentials

• Cap
• Gown
• Tassel

Plus additional graduation items you may be eligible for:

• First-Generation Student Graduation Cord (if neither parent earned a bachelor's degree before you turned 18)
• SLCC Student Engagement Stole
• Pins from clubs, departments, or cohorts you participated in during your time at SLCC

No cost. No stress. No last-minute scrambling.

Food? Covered.

• Boxed lunches available throughout the day
• Halal to-go meals available for students observing Ramadan

Stay, hang out, and make it an experience — not just an errand.

What Can You Do at Grad Fest?

FREE Cap Decorating Station

Design it. Bedazzle it. Make it unforgettable.

FREE Henna Tattoos

Temporary ink. Permanent memories.

Karaoke

Grab the mic. This is your moment.

FREE Selfie Station

Bring your crew. Capture the milestone.

FREE Video Booth

Step in. Spin around. Spotlight activated.

Bottom Line

Grad Fest makes graduation prep easy, fun, and completely stress-free.

Drop in. Pick up your gear. Celebrate how far you've come.

We'll see you there.

Additional Info

All students who have applied for graduation and planning to attend SLCC’s annual Commencement Ceremony wear a traditional black cap and gown when walking across the stage. Graduates can purchase Commencement Ceremony items from the bookstore, in-person or online.

In-Person

May 7 is the last day to pick up honor cords and caps, gowns, or stoles at the following SLCC Bookstore locations.

Online

Order Your Cap and Gown

When ordering your cap and gown online, please allow for processing and shipping. SLCC recommends ordering your cap and gown online before May 2.

• Graduation Set: Complimentary ($40.50 value includes black graduation gown, mortar board graduation cap, and royal blue/gold tassel with graduation year.)
• Additional Individual Tassel: $7.50
• Bling Tassel: $14.50
• Tassel Keyring: $7.50
• Stole of Gratitude: $34 (Blue satin stole with SLCC seal to be worn during commencement and then presented to an individual who supported you in your journey through college.)
• Announcements available in a 10-pack at the Redwood location for in-store purchase : $17.50

At Commencement

A limited selection of caps and gowns will be available on site at the Maverik Center on the morning of Commencement, May 8. You’ll find them inside the main entrance on level 2.

Schedule

• 8:00 - 8:30 a.m.: Grad check-in
• 8:30 a.m.: Doors open for guests
• 9:00 a.m.: Grads report to tent area for processional
• 9:30 a.m.: Processional
• 10 a.m.: Commencement Ceremony (Please plan to stay throughout the event so we can celebrate every student!)

Transportation & Parking

Maverik Center
3200 S. Decker Lake Dr
West Valley City

Parking

First come, first served for grads and guests. Please be patient and expect congested street traffic entering and exiting the Maverik Center. View parking options at this link.

Public transportation

You may want to consider riding public transportation such as Trax. Convenient Trax station 3100 S and 2200 W.

1. Arrive ready in your cap with tassel and gown

   Prior to arriving day of SLCC Bookstore provides in-store pick up.

   Day of the Commencement Ceremony there will be a limited quantity of cap and gowns a at Maverik Center, please ask your tent volunteer where you can pick up a cap and gown last minute morning of Commencement Ceremony.

   Every grad walking in the Commencement Ceremony will be asked if they want to take a photo in their cap and gown by a professional photographer. These photographs will be available for purchase and are designed to mark your SLCC higher education achievements. Tassel placement – right or left? Right! Start the ceremony with your tassel on the right side of your cap. Move it to the left as you receive your diploma or when directed to do so by the graduation speaker.

   Grads celebrating additional individual honors please remember to wear your honor cords, stole and/or medallion(s).

2. Grad Check-In at Tents 8 am - 8:30 am

   Check in at the tent by the first letter of last name to get your name reader card. (Example: if your last name starts with an “S” like Smith, go to the tent with the letter “S“on it.). This card is important. While on stage at the ceremony, an SLCC employee will announce your name from the card. The card is also scanned and your name will appear on the screen as you walk across the stage to shake hands with SLCC President Greg Peterson. Only one card is printed per student.

3. Grad Line up

   Volunteers will ask all grads to line up 10 minutes before the processional start time. Please follow volunteer instructions. You will line up in two parallel lines.

   To sit next to your friends, line up in the same line, one in front of the other. There will be two parallel lines that split upon entering the arena.

   Volunteers will guide you into the Maverik Center:

   • Line #1 VIP Entry: L-Z
   • Line #2 Team Entry: ADA, Civically Engaged Scholars, A-K, and Provost’s Grads of Excellence.

   Once you enter the arena, you will be guided to your seat. Sit back and enjoy Commencement.

4. Questions Day of Commencement Ceremony?

   Ask anyone wearing an SLCC volunteer shirt or jacket. SLCC volunteers are happy to answer grad and guest questions.

Salt Lake Community College se complace en proporcionar traducción simultánea en español para tus familiares durante nuestra Ceremonia de graduación.

Los auriculares se pueden recoger en el tercer nivel del Maverick Center. Se debe dejar un artículo como garantía el cual se devolverá cuando se devuelvan los auriculares. El número máximo de auriculares disponibles por garantía es cuatro. Tu familiar puede dejar una licencia de conducir o una identificación estatal como garantía.

Salt Lake Community College is pleased to provide simultaneous translation in Spanish during our Commencement Ceremony for your families.

Headsets can be picked up on the third level of the Maverick Center. An item must be left as collateral and will be returned when the headset is returned. A maximum of up to four headsets per piece of collateral. Your family member can leave a driver’s license or state ID as collateral.

Graduates requiring ADA accommodations for Commencement should contact Clint Stoker in Accessibility & Disability Services at 801-957-3779 or email clint.stoker@slcc.edu

• Simultaneous translation in Spanish will be provided during Commencement for you and/or your guests. Headsets can be picked up inside the Maverik Center main level. A driver’s license or state ID must be left as collateral and will be returned when the headset is returned. Maximum number of headsets available per ID is four.

Upon arrival at the Maverik Center, look for the tent with the first letter of your last name in the northeast section of the parking lot.

Parking will be available to everyone ,but carpooling is highly recommended. Please review the parking map to identify your parking area.

Getting your Cords, Stoles and Medallion

• If you are attending Grad Fest, the Bookstore will give you any cords you have earned.
• If you are ordering your cap and gown online, please add a store comment if you are requesting any honor cords, so they can be mailed along with your cap and gown.

SLCC Honors

• Gold Cord
  • Students who complete coursework with a cumulative grade point average of 3.80 or higher will be awarded high honors and qualify for a gold cord. This includes our Phi Theta Kappa graduates.
• Silver Cord
  • Students who complete coursework with a cumulative grade point average between 3.50 and 3.79 will be awarded honors and qualify for a silver cord.
• Blue Cord
  • Students who complete the requirement for the Civically Engaged Scholar program will qualify for a royal blue cord.
• Silver Stole
  • Students honored as Graduates of Excellence will qualify for a silver stole.
• Red, White and Blue Cord
  • Our veteran or active-duty students qualify for a red, white and blue cord.
  • Veterans can pick up their cord at the Taylorsville Veterans Center starting March 25 and up until Commencement.
  • Veterans Services will cover the cost of Commencement Regalia (cap, gown and tassel) for all graduating Veterans. A list of eligible students will be sent to the Taylorsville Bookstore beginning March 25. If the application for graduation is submitted after March 25, please contact Veterans Services.
• Blue and Gold Cord
  • Students who identify as first-generation college students qualify for a blue and gold cord.
  • Are you a First Generation student? First-generation students are defined as students from families where their biological parents did not complete a four-year college degree.
• Navy, Light Blue, and Bright Gold Cords
  • Graduates concurrently enrolled in high school qualify for navy, light blue and bright gold cords.
• Blue Ribbon and Gold Medallion
  • Available to students who complete nine credits of Honors coursework, three high-impact practices, two enrichment experiences per semester, and who maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or higher graduate from the Honors Program.

Graduates can sign up to have their Commencement photo proofs sent to them by clicking here.

Congratulations Salt Lake Community College Class of 2026!

Grad Social Media Images

Grad Family, Friends and SLCC Employees Social Media Images

Check back for a link to SLCC social images.

Be sure to hashtag #SLCCGrad to be included on our social media wall and tag us so we can share your posts.

• Blue Sky: @SaltLakeCC
• Facebook: Salt Lake Community College
• Instagram: @SaltLakeCC
• Threads: @SaltLakeCC
• TikTok: @SaltLakeCC
• X (formerly known as Twitter): @SaltLakeCC

Not every planned special event runs as scheduled. Some incidents occur that are beyond our control. To ensure the safety of our community and visitors, each of us has the responsibility to protect and minimize the impacts of an emergency at a planned special event.

Academic Regalia

Traditional graduation attire that includes the gown, cap (mortarboard), hood, cords, and stoles.

Alumna

A female graduate of an institution.

Alumnae

Plural form of alumna (female graduates).

Alumni

Plural term for graduates of an institution (mixed gender or male).

Alumnus

A male graduate of an institution.

Baccalaureate

Another term for a bachelor's degree; may also refer to a pre-commencement service.

Cap (Mortarboard)

The square academic cap worn during commencement.

Commencement

The formal ceremony celebrating the awarding of degrees.

Conferral of Degrees

The formal moment when degrees are officially awarded.

Cum Laude

Latin for "with praise," indicating academic honors.

Dean

The head of a specific academic college or division within a university.

Degree

The academic credential awarded upon completion of a program.

Diploma

The official certificate issued to verify a degree has been earned.

Doctoral Regalia

Academic dress specific to doctoral graduates, often featuring velvet sleeve stripes and a tam cap.

Gown

The long robe worn as part of academic regalia.

Grand Marshal

An official who directs graduates during the ceremony.

Honor Cords

Colored braided cords worn to signify academic achievement or organizational affiliation.

Honorary Degree

A degree awarded to an individual in recognition of achievements without completion of academic requirements.

Legacy

A graduate whose parent or family member also attended the institution.

Magna Cum Laude

Latin for "with great praise," indicating high academic honors.

Mortarboard (Cap)

Another term for the traditional square academic cap.

Platform Party

Distinguished guests and administrators seated on stage.

President

The chief executive officer of a college or university.

Processional

The formal entrance of graduates and faculty into the ceremony.

Recessional

The formal exit at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Salutatorian

The student with the second-highest academic ranking.

Stole

A decorative sash worn over the shoulders, often representing heritage, honors, or organizations.

Summa Cum Laude

Latin for "with highest praise," indicating the highest academic honors.

Tassel

The decorative cord attached to the cap, traditionally moved from right to left during the ceremony.

Turning of the Tassel

The symbolic gesture marking the transition from candidate to graduate.