It is time again for Grand Valley State University seniors to start celebrating the end of college days with GradFest.

The four-day GradFest event runs today through Thursday and is open to all graduating seniors. It includes registering for the commencement ceremony, picking up tickets and purchasing caps, gowns and tassels. Additional graduation products such as frames, class rings and more, will also be available.

“GradFest is the one-stop-shop event for students to get all graduation-related services in one spot,” said Mindy Kalinowski Earley, assistant director of Alumni Relations and a member of the planning committee for the event. “There are multiple on-campus services and community vendors available to assist students with their final campus business and to help prepare them for life after graduation.”

Alumni Relations will use GradFest as an opportunity to invite new graduates to their first Young Alumni event, the Kentucky Derby Party and New Graduate Welcome.

“(We) want to let them know they are in the Laker family for life,” Earley said. “We want our newest graduates to feel supported, to understand the benefits available to them from the Alumni Association.”

GradFest is designed to help students prepare for April 30 and get registered for commencement. Registration is available online with a step-by-step process of requirements for attending GradFest.

“The event is held to provide an organized way for students to get their tickets and regalia for commencement while also celebrating their success of graduating,” said Kyle Douglas, University Bookstore representative for the GradFest committee. “Graduation season is a hectic time for students, and GradFest is an opportunity for the students to have a little fun while getting the details of commencement worked out in an organized way.”

University Bookstore provides graduating students with caps and gowns worn during the commencement ceremonies held at Van Andel Arena on April 30. Caps and gowns purchased during the four days of GradFest qualify for a discount.

For Arvin Hernaez, who graduated GVSU in May 2010, GradFest was memorable.

“It was definitely an experience I’ll remember forever because it was basically the accumulation of my college career,” Hernaez said. “(Graduation) was also a day where I was able to stand alongside my peers in front of my professors, community and family and be recognized as a college graduate. It was a very fulfilling and proud moment that I cherish. And attending graduation just made me more aware of the completion of one journey of my life and the excitement to begin another one.”

For more information about GradFest, visit www.gvsu.edu/commencement.

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