May 7, 2025
Nearly 1,300 graduates will be participating in Ferris State’s May 2025 commencement ceremonies
Ferris State University is preparing to celebrate the graduation of 1,300 students during two days of ceremonies, May 9-10. Four ceremonies are scheduled in Big Rapids, while a May 10 ceremony will be in Grand Rapids for Ferris State’s Kendall College of Art and Design.
Ferris State President Bill Pink recognizes what commencement represents for graduates who will cross the stage during their ceremonies – transitioning from one important life chapter to their next.
“Commencement at Ferris State University is a celebration of our students who have worked hard to earn their degrees,” Pink said. “Their Ferris State degree will position our graduates to enter the workforce with a relevant preparation that is responsive to the needs of our industries we serve. We’re proud to celebrate this monumental achievement while welcoming them to an alumni community of proud Bulldogs who are making a difference in our state and across the globe.”
On Friday, May 9, on the Big Rapids campus, Ferris State will host a 3 p.m. ceremony for the College of Health Professions, Doctorate in Community College Leadership, College of Pharmacy, and Michigan College of Optometry and a 7 p.m. ceremony for the College of Engineering Technology. On Saturday, May 10, Ferris State will celebrate the graduates of the College of Arts, Sciences and Education at 10 a.m. and the College of Business at 1:30 p.m.
Saturday’s 10 a.m. ceremony celebrates the first cohort of Ferris State’s Ready for Life students, a group of six, who will be participating in the ceremony by earning a certificate of completion. In collaboration with Ferris State, Ready for Life Academy provides a postsecondary educational experience on the Big Rapids campus for college-aged individuals diagnosed with intellectual disabilities and autism.
KCAD will host its commencement on Saturday, May 10, at 10 a.m. at the Forest Hills Fine Art Center, 600 Forest Hills Ave SE, in Grand Rapids.
Spring 2025 graduates participating in ceremonies can receive up to six electronic tickets. No extra e-tickets will be distributed by the Commencement Office or the individual college commencement coordinators. Likewise, lost tickets will not be replaced. Guests who do not have tickets can watch the ceremonies via a live stream on the Commencement Office website. Click for more information.
Each graduate receives six tickets for the Spring 2025 commencement ceremonies. Graduates reserve tickets using the online ticketing system.
Kendall College of Art and Design hosts its commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 10, at the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center (600 Forest Hills Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49546), beginning at 10 a.m. KCAD commencement will celebrate graduates from December 2024, Spring 2025 and Summer 2025.
KCAD Class of 2025 Valedictorian Elena Roberts, who is earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design, will deliver the student address, while 2025 Master of Architecture candidate Drue McPherson will be delivering the graduate address.
Grand Rapids City Manager Mark Washington will be delivering the keynote address. Professor Natalie Wetzel and professor Danielle Wyckoff will be delivering the faculty farewell.
Tickets are required to attend. Each graduate can reserve up to 10 tickets for their supporters. The ceremony will be live streamed on the KCAD website and Facebook page for people who cannot attend in person.
KCAD’s 2025 Annual Student Exhibition is on view to the public in Grand Rapids at 17 Fountain St. NW and DeVos Place Convention Center, from Saturday, May 3, through Sunday, May 11. The public closing reception is Friday, May 9, from 3 to 7 p.m.
Brandi Behrenwald, Ferris State’s executive director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, is excited to welcome this spring’s graduates to the Alumni Association.
“We’re excited to welcome our newest Ferris State University graduates to the Alumni Association,” Behrenwald said. “This is an extraordinary family of Bulldogs who make an impact where they live while maintaining a close bond with Ferris State. We look forward to seeing what the Class of 2025 is going to do in society, and we would love for them to know that no matter where they go, they will be a Bulldog for Life.”
In addition to the nearly 1,300 participating in commencement ceremonies May 9-10, Ferris State will be awarding more than 1,700 degrees and certificates.
For people interested in but unable to attend commencement, the Ferris Big Rapids ceremonies are streamed live via the Ferris State Video YouTube channel. Watch the online stream by clicking the link. That live stream will be courtesy of Ferris Cable 22.
Visit the commencement website for more information.