Las Vegas

October 27-28

Commencement Weekend in Las Vegas

FAQs

Commencement Ceremony
(All Graduates)
Friday, October 27

Thomas & Mack Center
4505 S Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas, NV 89154

Check-in Time: 3 pm
Ceremony Time: 4 pm

Alumni Celebration
Friday, October 27

Virgin Hotel Las Vegas
4455 Paradise Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89169

6:00-9:00 pm

Commencement Ceremony

College of Business & College of IT Convocation

Leavitt School of Health & School of Education Convocation

Las Vegas Commencement Deadlines:

RSVP
Deadline: CLOSED
Graduate Speaker Application
Deadline: CLOSED
Anthem Singer Audition
Deadline: CLOSED
Cap & Gown Ordering
Deadline: CLOSED
Philanthropy Cord
Spirit Necklace

Las Vegas Commencement Details:

Commencement Program

Keynote Speaker

Erik Wahl
Artist and Author

Erik Wahl is an internationally recognized artist, TED speaker, and No. 1 bestselling author. His breakthrough experience as an artist and entrepreneur has translated into making him into one of the most sought-after speakers on the circuit today.

On stage, Erik’s keynote experience creates a dynamic multidimensional metaphor for how to systematically embrace innovation and risk. His message: disruption is the new normal and businesses must embrace creativity in a wholesale fashion, or risk being left behind. Erik’s presentation inspires organizations to be increasingly agile and outlines how to use disruption as a competitive advantage. Some companies will be disrupted others will choose to be the disruptor. Choose wisely.

His new book, The Spark and the Grind, activates the essential components of translating ideas into action. His breakthrough thinking has earned praise from the likes of top influencers in both art and business. Erik’s previous book, a bestseller called Unthink was hailed by Forbes Magazine as The blueprint to actionable creativity, and by Fast Company Magazine as “provocative with a purpose.”

The Warhol of Wall Street, the Renoir of ROI, The Picasso of Productivity, the Jobs of … Well, Jobs.

Erik discovered an alarming truth early in his career as a partner in a corporate firm: organizations that encouraged the mental discipline of creativity did better than those that did not put innovation as a priority mission. So he set out to challenge companies to change their way of thinking.

In the meantime, inspired by street art, he became an acclaimed graffiti artist—though he has since stopped selling his works for personal gain, and instead uses his art to raise money for charities. His keynote is where his passion for business growth and art converge into a fascinating performance.

Erik has worked with top organizations including AT&T, Disney, London School of Business, Microsoft, FedEx, Exxon Mobil, Ernst & Young, and XPrize.

To learn more about Erik, visit theartofvision.com

Commencement Ceremony Graduate Speaker

Leah Chansa

Leah Chansa was born and raised in the Sacramento area of California. She is a wife and a mother of three children. She has thoroughly enjoyed being a NICU nurse for the past 12 years. To say Leah keeps busy is an understatement. She currently teaches a stable course to NICU nurses, leads out in critical event team training and annual skills fairs, and takes on extra projects to improve departmental workflow.

She completed her Master’s in Nursing – Leadership and Management at WGU seeking to improve her leadership skills. She believes that a nursing leader is a nurse to the nurse and loves the idea of supporting and advocating for nurses. In her free time, she loves traveling, doing crafts, and spending time with friends and family, and has recently caught the fitness bug and stays active at her local gym.

College of I.T. & College of Business Graduate Speakers

Brady McNulty

Lifelong learner and tinkerer, Brady McNulty, previously served in the Navy’s nuclear power program as a reactor operator. Following his time in the military, he graduated with his Doctor of Pharmacy from Texas A&M University in 2014. Following COVID, Brady realized pharmacy was no longer the same and he knew it was time for a change again.

Having always had a passion for technology, Brady readily enrolled in WGU’s B.S. in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance program and earned his master’s in the same discipline not long after. Thanks to the degrees and included certifications, he now works as a threat analyst for a large national organization.

Brady has had several mentors on this journey and because of their impact in his life, he strives to mentor others as well. He is a Member of the Order of St John and the National Staff of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. In his free time, Brady can be found enjoying the beauty of the Pacific Northwest with his family and his dog.

Heather Anderson

Heather Anderson is passionate about human resources, law, and creativity. She is a life-long learner who thrives at the intersection of compliance and imagination. After an 11-year hiatus from school, Heather decided to pursue her bachelor’s degree and enrolled at WGU.

Born and raised in Utah as the oldest of six, she’s grown up with a strong sense of community. Her skill for networking helped propel her into her career path as an HR Professional. She sits on the Utah Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) State Board of Directors as Social Media

Director, helping to promote and elevate HR throughout Utah.

An advocate for learning, and passionate about helping others, Heather enjoys mentoring others and sharing her knowledge through public speaking events in Utah. After earning her bachelor’s degree, Heather is now also pursuing her Juris Masters in Employment Law and HR Risk Management and then plans to pursue her Juris Doctorate. When she’s not spending time on her education or sharing her passion for the Human Resources world, you can find Heather spending time with her husband and kids, playing pool, or helping create monsters for Fear Factory Haunted House in Salt Lake City as part of the make-up team.

Leavitt School of Health & School of Education Graduate Speakers

Sabrina Robison

Sabrina Robison is no stranger to the limelight. She got her start in a Huggies Diaper commercial, and although this never evolved into a regular model or acting career, it served as a platform for the rest of Sabrina’s journey.

Sabrina was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and she

enjoys travelling – she's been to 42 of the 50 states in the U.S. and she recently travelled to Ecuador, where her father is from, to introduce her son to family still living there.

Sabrina and her husband, Kyle, have been married for 11 years, and early in their marriage they moved to Missouri to build their life there. After completing nursing school in Missouri, Sabrina would have no idea that her nursing journey would lead her back home with an opportunity to work with her mother at Lovelace Women’s Hospital.

In July 2023, Sabrina completed her master’s in nursing education at WGU, which has opened doors for her to teach other nursing students at Carrington College. On top of that, she continues to work full time in the NICU for Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque.

When Sabrina isn’t working or being a mom to her adorable Mason, she enjoys going to drag queen bingo, dance parties, musicals, and reading.

Lisa Petersen

Lisa Petersen has always had a dream to impact others through education. Born in Utah, her family moved to New Jersey and then Maryland before returning to Utah for her senior year of high school. She earned her bachelor’s in elementary education and then entered the classroom immediately thereafter. She taught for 16 years where she even had the opportunity to teach all three of her children.

With a desire to have an even greater impact, Lisa pursued her

master’s in educational leadership from WGU and while on this path, was hired as an assistant principal at an elementary school where she is completing her second year in that role.

Lisa is a proud mother of three children and two dogs. She and her husband have been married for almost 19 years and love all things Disney, baseball, pictures, and anything outdoors.

National Anthem Singer

Daniel Glen Saculles

Brittany Thoms of Wilson, North Carolina was born into a musically gifted family and has been singing since the age of two. She is the daughter of the late Rev. and Mrs. Benjamin A. Barnes Sr. and the youngest of seven children. From churches to stages to stadiums, Brittany has shared her gift with thousands. And at the beginning of 2022, she released her debut album entitled The Interlude in which she composed, arranged, and performed every song, all while earning her degree from WGU.

She is blessed to have a loving husband and children who have been an endless source of support and encouragement throughout her pursuit of education. Brittany recently began her career in education as an 8th Grade ELA teacher, where she is excited to mold the minds of her students thanks to all she’s learned.

National Anthem Singer

Daniel Glen Saculles

Daniel Glen Saculles was born and raised in Washington, D.C. Daniel realized his love of music when he was singing in the church youth choir. After graduating from high school, Daniel had no desire to pursue a college degree and jumped from job to job. After two years of feeling unfulfilled, Daniel decided to go back to school.

Although music was his passion, Daniel Wanted to follow a more certain path. Daniel moved to the Philippines at the age of 19 to pursue a nursing degree and continued singing with his college band as a hobby. After graduating in 1996 with his B.S. in Nursing, Daniel returned to the U.S. and passed the nursing boards in Maryland and vowed never again to return to school.

As a registered nurse, Daniel kept bouncing around to different positions and felt he was going around in circles again. In 2007, Daniel became a travel nurse and made his way to Los Angeles, where he landed a permanent position at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

With his desire for career advancement, Daniel turned his back on his 25 year old vow to never return to school and earned his MBA in Healthcare Management from WGU.

Daniel and his wife are the parents of two daughters and currently reside in Los Angeles. When he’s not in the operating room, you can find Daniel on a trail run or enjoying his favorite past time: singing.

Parking & Bag Policies

Information Coming Soon!

Hotel Discounts

Information Coming Soon!

Alumni Celebration in Las Vegas

Friday, October 27

Information Coming Soon!

Convocation Keynote Speaker

Information Coming Soon!

College of Business & College of IT Graduate Speakers

Information Coming Soon!

Leavitt School of Health & School of Education Graduate Speakers

Information Coming Soon!

National Anthem Singers

Information Coming Soon!

Frequently Asked Questions

Commencement/Convocation FAQs

As the university continues to see steady growth, new commencement models will be introduced to deliver the best graduate experience possible. In Washington, D.C. and Las Vegas only, one large gathering with all graduates will take place on Friday (Commencement) with smaller college-focused convocations taking place on Saturday. The Alumni Celebration will remain on Friday evening for graduates and their guests.

All graduates will be invited to attend a commencement ceremony that will feature remarks by university leaders, a keynote speaker, and will recognize all graduates for completing their degrees.

Graduates will gather by college for more personalized ceremonies. This ceremony is where each graduate will have their moment in the spotlight and walk across the stage to be recognized individually.

For the full commencement experience, we encourage graduates to attend both commencement and convocation ceremonies as they complement each other. In addition, we recommend attending the Alumni Celebration which provides fun, food, and entertainment for graduates and their guests.

A commencement guidebook will be loaded onto the commencement app and emailed to each graduate with check-in details, parking, maps, and more.

Please arrive dressed in your cap and gown for each ceremony. Due to the number of graduates and schedule, it is not practical to change into regalia at the venue.

Graduate names will be read during the convocation ceremony on Saturday. Please see the individual commencement page for further details.

The Friday commencement ceremony is typically one and a half hours.

Ceremony FAQs

A commencement guidebook will be loaded onto the commencement app and emailed to each graduate with check-in details, parking, maps, and much more.

Graduates are recommended to bring up to 8 guests, but tickets are not required to enter the commencement ceremony. Please feel free to bring your extra guests. Graduates do not need to update their initial guest count with the Commencement Office.

Tickets are not required for WGU commencement weekend events.

Only the names of graduates who physically attend an in-person commencement or submit a video to a virtual commencement will have their names read.

Policies vary by location and venue. Please consult the commencement app for further details three weeks prior to the ceremony date.

Please arrive dressed in your cap and gown for the commencement ceremony. Due to the number of graduates and schedule, it is not practical to change into regalia at the venue.

You can watch the commencement ceremony at the WGU YouTube channel at any point after the start of the ceremony.

The commencement photos are usually available 2-3 weeks after commencement. Those photos will be available for viewing at https://thegradteam.com/events/wgu/

Did you know that WGU Alumni have access to hundreds of discounts? Log in to BenefitHub to search for deals on flights, hotels, car rentals, and more.

Ceremony Participation & RSVP FAQs

There is not a time limit on when a graduate may walk in a commencement. Graduates may only participate in one commencement ceremony per degree program completed.

Tickets are not required for commencement weekend events.

Generally, the commencement ceremony lasts 2 hours.

Yes, it is possible for a commencement ceremony to reach capacity. We suggest that you submit an RSVP to your desired ceremony as soon as you are eligible.

Please review the commencement participation guidelines located in the student handbook, which outlines the eligibility for commencements.

Graduates who wish to participate in an in-person or virtual commencement ceremony must complete two steps.

Submit either your Graduation Application or be enrolled in and only have your final course remaining, such as capstone, final certification, or student teaching.

Submit an RSVP via the commencement web site (available at wgu.edu/commencement).

To RSVP, you must have either your Graduation Application submitted to the Student Records department or be enrolled in your final course, such as capstone, final certification, or student teaching. If you don’t currently meet this requirement, wait to RSVP until the requirement is met.

Students who are enrolled in their final course may submit an email to commencement@wgu.edu with "Final Course" in subject line along with desired commencement ceremony.

No, the graduation application process is separate from commencement. If the Commencement Office has granted a final course exemption, you do not have to have your graduation application submitted to walk at commencement.

Yes, the ceremony RSVP form is a separate process from the graduation application. The completion of the ceremony RSVP form reserves your seat at commencement and generates your name card for the announcer. 

After a graduate submits the ceremony RSVP form, a confirmation email is sent to the email address listed on the completed RSVP form. Please check your junk inbox. If you do not see a confirmation email for your ceremony RSVP. Please contact us at commencement@wgu.edu with additional questions.

No. Once registration has closed, no late additions, including day of (walk-up) will be permitted.

Graduates may walk in one commencement ceremony per degree. As of January 2022, a graduate may participate in one ceremony per degree, either a virtual or in-person ceremony.

Photos from each commencement ceremony will be available for purchase through our photography partner The Grad Team in the week following each commencement. All photos can be viewed on their website here.

Regalia FAQs

Oak Hall Cap and Gown is the official regalia vendor (caps, gowns, and hoods) for WGU. You can place your order via the website or call 1-800-456-7623 and ask for the Web Department. The official regalia color for graduates is navy.  For visual reference, please see our bachelor’s regalia video and our master’s regalia video. 

For bachelor’s degree, post-baccalaureate teacher programs, or endorsement preparation program (English Language Learning), you should order a cap, bachelor's gown, and tassel. For those earning a master's degree or endorsement preparation program (Educational Leadership), you should order a cap, master's gown, tassel, and a master's hood.

The following master’s hoods are available for purchase at the WGU-Oak Hall Cap and Gown website:

Education - blue
Business (all MBAs) - drab
Information Technology - gold
Nursing – apricot
Integrated Healthcare Management - salmon
Master of Health Leadership - sage green

You can order a tassel at the WGU-Oak Hall Cap and Gown website, or by calling 1-800-456-7623 and ask for the Web Department.

Yes, WGU graduates affiliated with an honor society may wear society pins or honor cords/sashes on their gowns. Teacher graduates affiliated with the WGU chapter of the international honor society of Kappa Delta Pi (KDP) may order honor cords at http://www.kdp.org.

Prior to the conferral of degrees, bachelor's degree graduates wear the tassel on the right while master's degree graduates wear their tassel on the left for the entire commencement ceremony.

A graduate should wear academic attire appropriate to the awarded degree. The master's gown differs from a bachelor's gown. If you already have a cap and tassel, you can order a master's gown as an individual item on the WGU-Oak Hall Cap and Gown website. Please note that the academic attire for a master's graduate includes a cap, tassel, master's gown, and hood.

WGU graduates who are veterans or active-duty military will be provided with a military honor cord. For virtual commencements, cords will be shipped to the address provided on their RSVP. For in-person commencements, cords will be picked up at graduate check-in. On your RSVP form, please mark that you are a veteran or on active duty.

Graduates are permitted to decorate their caps and wear sashes with their regalia. Take into consideration the following if decorating your cap or wearing a sash for commencement:

WGU does not allow content on caps or sashes that is considered, in WGU’s sole discretion, obscene, vulgar, defamatory, hateful, inappropriate, profane or that might disregard another’s copyright or third-party rights. All decorations must lie flat on the cap.

Philanthropy Cords FAQs

The Philanthropy Cord is a blue and gold cord that WGU graduates often wear with their cap and gown at commencement. The Philanthropy cord is not only a symbol of their commitment to WGU, but also an opportunity for them to “pay it forward” and help current and future WGU students.

Graduates can receive a Philanthropy Cord by making a gift of $25 or more to WGU’s Fellow Night Owl Scholarship, a fund established to help current WGU students facing financial hardship cross the finish line to graduation. To donate, graduates can text “WGUCord” to 41-444 or visit this link.

All proceeds from the Philanthropy Cord sales support our Fellow Night Owl Scholarship Fund, which helps current students experiencing financial hardships with need-based scholarships. Your donation is put to immediate use and provides help when it is needed the most. To learn more, click here.

For in-person commencements: If a donation is made more than four weeks prior to commencement weekend, the Philanthropy Cord will be mailed to the graduate. The cord may also be picked up by visiting the WGU Advancement table at the Alumni Celebration or during graduate check-in before commencement.

For virtual commencements: Philanthropy Cords will be mailed to the graduate prior to the ceremony date.

WGU Advancement, founded in 2018, is the official fundraising arm of Western Governors University (WGU). We are committed to supporting our students, faculty, and staff through our fundraising program to advance the mission of WGU. Your gifts help us to attract and retain talented students, provide student scholarships, and help our students “cross the finish line” to graduation!

No problem. You can donate to the Fellow Night Owl Scholarship Fund by clicking on this link or texting “WGUGrad” to 41-444. Every gift, big or small, makes a difference. Thank you in advance for your support.

Letter of Invitation for Abroad & Commencement Announcements FAQs

Yes, students may send an email to records@wgu.edu with the family member's full name, relationship to the student, and foreign address. Once provided, the Records Department will prepare documents containing information about the commencement and student's earned degree. These prepared letters will then be sent to the student to forward them to the correct parties. It may take 5-10 business days for the letters to be mailed to the student.