RIVERSIDE (May 2, 2013)—More than 1,000 students will receive diplomas in spring commencement exercises at California Baptist University May 3 and 4. Services will be held on the expansive Front Lawn of the campus Friday evening at 7 p.m. and Saturday morning at 9 a.m.

The Friday ceremony will feature those completing CBU's graduate programs, as well as baccalaureate students from the Online and Professional Studies Division. In addition, the award for Outstanding Online and Professional Studies Student of the Year will be announced.  Master's degree hooding ceremonies, where candidates received graduation hoods appropriate to their disciplines, have been held on campus in the past few weeks.

CBU's traditional undergraduate degree candidates will be honored at Saturday's exercises. Two awards will be announced: the 2013 Min Sung Kim Outstanding International Student Award and this year's outstanding senior award.

Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president, will be featured speaker at both ceremonies. Ellis has spoken at commencement services only one other time in his nearly 20 years as president.

Several remote parking lots, two of which will have shuttle services, are being offered for Saturday's services. Shuttles will run from 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Lancer Plaza, located on Adams Street and Briarwood Drive, will have shuttles arriving in 10-15 minute intervals. Shuttles will pick up guests from throughout the parking lot and drop them off in the front of the Yeager Center.

The Colony, located on Monroe Street and Magnolia Avenue, will also have shuttles arriving in 5-10 minute intervals. Pick up will be near the Hawthorne House in the middle of the parking lot. Drop off will be located in front of the Yeager Center.

Tickets are not required and there is no limit to the number of guests each graduate may invite to the commencement ceremony. There is ample seating to accommodate all guests. However, seats may not be reserved or held for guests and seating will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.

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