First-Gen Graduation Pinning Ceremony 2025

First-Generation Graduation Pinning Ceremony 2025

Graduation is always a reason to celebrate, but it’s an especially proud occasion for first-generation students. Before Commencement each May, we hold a pinning ceremony to celebrate BU’s first-gen graduates. Each student participating in the ceremony invites a guest—a family member or other supporter—who will have the honor of “pinning” the graduate with a commemorative Terrier F1RSTS lapel pin.


Fifth Annual First-Generation Graduation Pinning Ceremony

Friday, May 16, 2025, 7:30-9:00pm EDT
Tsai Performance Center, 685 Commonwealth Avenue

The Newbury Center invites all Terrier F1RSTS graduating this May to join us for our 5th Annual First-Generation Graduation Pinning Ceremony on Friday, May 16th, from 7:30-9:00pm. We look forward to celebrating you, our graduating first-generation undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.  If you would like to participate in the First-Generation Graduation Pinning Ceremony, please complete this form by Friday, April 25, 2025.
Questions? Please contact Newbury Center Associate Director, M.C. Damm, at mdamm@bu.edu.

Boston University’s fifth annual First-Gen Graduation Pinning Ceremony will be live-streamed on Friday, May 16, 2025 at 7:30 pm EDT. Check this page closer to the event for the Livestream link!

Accommodations During Commencement Weekend

The Newbury Center strives to ensure that our First-Generation Graduation Pinning Ceremony is an accessible and inclusive event. Graduates and guests requesting accessibility accommodations (e.g. captioning, ASL services, mobility assistance) should fill out the Commencement Accommodations Request Form at their earliest convenience.

A few important notes on completing the form:

  • Please submit one request per graduate.
  • You will need to have your BUID, phone, & email handy to complete the form.
  • You will need to know which ceremonies you are attending that weekend and the total number of guests in your party.
  • Requests can be made April 1 through May 9.

For more information on Disability and Access Services during Commencement Weekend, click here. Please submit your Accommodations Request Form at your earliest convenience—the final deadline to submit is Friday, May 9, 2025. While every effort will be made to provide accommodations requested after May 9, they cannot be guaranteed.

Questions? Please contact M.C. Damm, our Newbury Center Associate Director, for assistance: mdamm@bu.edu.

Parking

For graduates and guests driving to campus, all parking garages will be open and free of charge throughout the weekend.

For the First-Generation Graduation Pinning Ceremony, we recommend parking at either the Warren Towers Garage (700 Commonwealth Ave) or the Rafik B. Hariri Building Garage (595 Commonwealth Ave), as both are a short, 3-5 minute walk from the Tsai Performance Center.

Accessible parking spaces can be found in the CAS Lot (240 Bay State Road) immediately behind the Tsai Performance Center.


Regalia Assistance

If purchasing or renting your graduation regalia (cap and gown) would create a significant financial challenge for you, please contact M.C. Damm, our Newbury Center Associate Director, for assistance: mdamm@bu.edu.