Graduating from Grays Harbor College
Congratulations on your Academic Achievement!
As you near the end of your degree at GHC, there are some important steps to take to be sure that you are awarded your degree.
Step 1: Apply for your Degree or Certificate
To receive your certificate or degree, you must complete a Degree/Certificate Application. The one located on your ctcLink Dashboard (listed as Apply for/View Graduation) doesn’t currently work at this time. Because this may take time to fix, we have defaulted to the digital Degree/Certificate Application online.
Once submitted, our transcript evaluator will review your transcripts to verify your eligibility for graduation. You do not need to be considered eligible to walk at the graduation ceremony; however, in order to confer your degree/certificate, this application process is necessary. To ensure a smooth process, please complete this application before the deadline (listed below). This deadline will allow our office to get your name/degree listed in the commencement program. All degrees/certificates are awarded after grades are posted (07/01/2025). Our office will process each request in the order it was received. It is also recommended to refer to the Graduation webpage at Graduating from Grays Harbor College | Grays Harbor College to obtain more information regarding graduation.
For any questions regarding graduation eligibility, please email enrollment@ghc.edu.
Accommodations: If you or your family members need any ADA accommodations to fully attend and/or participate in the commencement ceremony please contact Holly Edwards, Interim Accessibility Services Coordinator at 360-538-4143 or holly.edwards@ghc.edu.
To ensure accommodations will be in place prior to your arrival, please contact us by Friday, June 14. We will do everything in our power to accommodate any requests that are submitted after the priority deadline.
Application Deadline: May 16th
Apply for Degree or Certificate
Step 2: Pick up your cap, tassel, and gown
Caps and gowns will be available for pick up on May 12 in the Student Life offices.
To arrange a time to pick-up at the Aberdeen campus, email Student Life at ghclife@ghc.edu, call or Emma Benson at emma.benson@ghc.edu; 360-591-8709 or jonni.dawson@ghc.edu; 360-538-4066. Pacific County students who need make an appointment to pick-up in Raymond, email kent.smaciarz@ghc.edu or call 360-538-4023.
Graduates who are unable to pick up their cap, gown and tassel before the ceremony will be able to pick-up their items at the graduate check-in on the day of the event, please arrive early enough to do so.
The 2025 Commencement Ceremony will be on Friday, June 27 at Stewart Field in Aberdeen, Washington at 7:00p.
Do I have to register to participate in the ceremony?
No. All students eligible to graduate will have their names included in the official ceremony program. An email will be sent in spring quarter to eligible graduates.
If I complete my degree this summer, can I participate in the ceremony?
Students who will complete a degree in summer quarter are eligible to participate in the spring commencement ceremony as long as they have registered for summer quarter classes.
Commencement Ceremony Details
This year’s 2025 Commencement Ceremony will take place at Stewart Field in Aberdeen on Friday, June 27st at 7:00 pm. The stadium is located at 800 Willard St., Aberdeen, Washington 98520.
Stewart Field Details
- No admission fee
- Gates open at 5:30 pm
Stewart Field Diagram
Arrival Time & Graduate Drop-Off Area
- The stadium gates open at 5:30pm and graduates should arrive no later than 6:15pm to ensure adequate time to check-in and line up
- The graduate check-in area will be at the north grandstands of Stewart Field. Graduates can enter the stadium from the side entrance (located on Holmes St.) or the main entrance (located off N B St)
- To get to Holmes St. you will want to turn off N B St. at Cleveland St.
- Holmes St. will be blocked off at the intersection of Holmes & Stewart St.
Stewart Field Parking
- Public parking is located next to the stadium at Willard St, Aberdeen, WA 98520
- Employees are being directed to park next to the Stewart Building at 900 Cleveland St, Aberdeen, WA 98520
- There is no cost to park at the stadium
Graduate Instructions
- Please arrive by 6:15 pm; doors to stadium will open at 5:30pm
- No spike heels will be allowed on the field, this includes pumps, stilettos, kitten heels, and every type of metal cleat
- Follow the signs to the graduate check-in where you will receive your name card, which will include your name, degree and other honors being recognized
- At 6:30p we will gather all graduates to get a group photo and then line you up for the processional into the ceremony
- Graduates may line up in any order, unless it has been communicated to you in advance of the ceremony about lining up in a specific order
- Please pay attention to the ushers, who will assist you getting to your seats (processional) and exiting your seats post-ceremony (recessional)
Cap & Gown
To arrange a time to pick-up between June 17-20 at the Aberdeen campus, email jonni.dawson@ghc.edu or call 360-538-4066. Pacific County students who need make an appointment to pick-up in Raymond, email kent.smaciarz@ghc.edu or call 360-538-4023.
Graduates who are unable to pick up their cap, gown and tassel before the ceremony will be able to pick-up their items at the graduate check-in on the day of the event, arrive early enough to do so.
Event Photography
We are delighted to share that we will have Moyer Multi Media at this year’s ceremony providing photography services. Students will be able to access photos a few days after the event. Moyer Multi Media
Contact Us
Any questions about this year’s commencement ceremony should be directed to the student life specialist Emma Benson at emma.benson@ghc.edu or calling 360-591-8709. Questions about the Application for Degree or Certificate should be directed to the Welcome Center at 360-532-9020 or enrollment@ghc.edu
Previous Ceremonies
Here are the web links to recent ceremonies and event programs the college has hosted: