BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR) — Virginia Tech will recognize more than 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students during commencement celebration week.

6,804 undergraduate students and 1,177 graduate candidates will be earning degrees, with commencement ceremonies for each college running throughout the week– from Wednesday, May 10, through Sunday, May 14.

Jean Case, chairwoman of the National Geographic Society, will deliver the University Commencement address on Friday at 8:30 a.m. in Lane Stadium. All students earning degrees are encouraged to attend and jump to ‘Enter Sandman’ one last time, before gaining alumni status.

The complete schedule for the spring commencement ceremonies can be found here.

Virginia Tech is also recognizing 255 students who will graduate from the Corps of Cadets program, where over half of them will enter service in the military as commissioned officers.

In addition to the traditional commencement ceremonies, Virginia Tech will also host the following cultural achievement ceremonies throughout the week, honoring the diversity of the student body:

  • Aliyah (a celebration of Jewish undergraduate and graduate students)
  • American Indian and Indigenous (for Native students)
  • APIDA (for Asian Pacific Islander Desi American students)
  • Donning of the Kente (for those of African American heritage)
  • First Together (for first-generation undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. candidates)
  • Gesta Latina (for students of Hispanic or Latino descent)
  • Disabilities Community
  • Lavender (for LGBTQ+ graduates)
  • Veterans (for student graduates who are veterans of military service)
  • Recovery Community (for student graduates who have overcome addictions)

The complete schedule for the cultural achievement ceremonies can be found here.

Traffic will be heavy around Blacksburg during this week due to the influx of families and friends coming into town to celebrate.