Family and Friends of Graduates

Family and Friends of Graduates

High School and University Commencement will be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person. The live stream link of the commencement ceremony will be on the uncsa.edu homepage on the day of commencement.

Ceremony Dates & Times

High School Commencement

2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at the Benton Convention Center in downtown Winston-Salem.

High School Ceremony

University Commencement

10 a.m. on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at the Benton Convention Center in downtown Winston-Salem.

University Ceremony

Prohibited Items

To ensure a safe, comfortable and enjoyable experience for all graduates and guests, the following items are not permitted at UNCSA Commencement:

Air horns or other loud noisemakers
Beach balls and other inflatable items
Canned string (e.g., Silly String)
Balloons
Confetti or confetti cannons
Glitter
Alcohol
Coolers
Mace or pepper spray
Oversized bags
Pets (with the exception of service animals)
Pocket knives, firearms, or any other weapons
Smoke or fog machines
Sparklers or other open flames
Bicycles, scooters, skateboards or other personal vehicles

Please note: UNCSA Commencement staff reserves the right to remove any item that obstructs views or disrupts the event experience. Thank you for helping us create a celebratory and respectful environment for all!

UNCSA podium

Tickets

Everyone attending a UNCSA Commencement ceremony must have a ticket. Graduating students request tickets for their guests. Those tickets are emailed to the graduating students' UNCSA artist email addresses.

Each guest needs an electronic or printed copy of their ticket. No one without a ticket will admitted to the event.

Commencement Ticket Info

parking sign

Parking

High School & University Commencement Parking

Parking near the Benton Convention Center includes the Marriott Winston-Salem parking deck, the City of Winston-Salem’s 6th/Cherry-Trade Parking Deck and on-street parking spaces.

Commencement Parking Info

UNCSA sign in front of the Winston-Salem skyline

Accommodations and Airports

Traveling to Winston-Salem for commencement? Find information about airports and hotels — many of which offer discounts for UNCSA visitors — near our commencement locations.

Accommodation & airport into

Guests sitting at UNCSA commencment

Arrival & Seating

Families and friends of graduates should arrive 45 minutes to an hour prior to the commencement ceremony. Doors will open 40 minutes before the ceremony.

Seating for guests will be general admission. Guests of graduates should plan to arrive together to be seated together. Do not leave empty seats between seating parties as this will delay seating all of the ticketed guests.

High School Commencement

College COMMENCEMENT

UNCSA graduates taking photos at commencement

Photography

Parents may take pictures during and after the ceremony. There will be two picture stations set up that families can use to take individual or family pictures.

Photo Specialties will take two photographs of each student as they cross the stage. The first will be on stage when they are handed their diploma and the second will be a posed picture after they cross the stage. These photos will be sent to parents and will be available for purchase.

hadicap parking space

Accessibility

If you need accommodations at a commencement ceremony, please contact Russell Scott at scottr@uncsa.edu or 336-721-1945(opens in new tab)(opens in new tab)(opens in new tab).

Requests must be made within 72 business hours of the event. Be sure to include your name and contact information, so we may contact you.