Campus News

Commencement held at the football stadium for the first time in university’s history.

Rockford, IL (May 14, 2021) – Rockford University will hold its 167^th Commencement on Saturday, May 15, 2021. The university will award undergraduate and graduate degrees to approximately 370 students from 15 states and 13 countries.

For the first time in the university’s history, commencement exercises will be held at Rockford University’s Sam Greeley Field (football stadium) to allow for social distancing and health and safety protocols amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. To safely accommodate students and their guests, two ceremonies will be held, 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Providing this year’s keynote address to the graduates is Molly Barker, Founder of Girls on the Run.

An accomplished triathlete, Barker encourages others to run—toward hope, passion, and self-discovery to solve problems and overcome adversity. With a background in social work, counseling, and teaching, she is the founder of two rapidly growing nonprofit organizations. Since 1996, Girls on the Run has helped more than one million girls across the country unleash their potential, and since 2014, The Red Boot Coalition has provided a space for honest sharing and compassionate listening that changes how we see and engage with our world.  

Barker shares life-changing lessons from her personal journey of self-discovery, inspiring listeners to recognize the power of one person to make a significant difference. Authentic, candid, and relatable on stage, she leaves audiences with a deeper awareness of the world, as well as creative strategies for channeling passions into innovative solutions for your team, organization, or community.

Tickets are required to attend the commencement ceremonies and have been limited to degree candidates and their guests. Both ceremonies are currently at capacity limits and tickets are no longer able to be reserved. No tickets will be available at the door on May 15.

About Rockford University: Rockford University is a four-year, co-educational institution founded in 1847 offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in traditional liberal arts and professional fields. The University offers approximately 80 majors, minors and concentrations, including the adult accelerated degree completion program for a B.S. in Management Studies. Through its Graduate Studies department, degrees are extended to include the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), and a Master of Education in Urban Education (ME.d). Rockford University is home to one of only 11 Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) chapters in Illinois, the most prestigious honor society in the United States. Rockford University is also named by The Princeton Review as a Best Midwestern College. Rockford University currently serves approximately 1,300 full-and part-time students.