How to Write College Graduation Announcements

The graduation announcement acts as both an invitation and a celebration of the graduate's accomplishment.

A graduation announcement notifies faculty, family members and friends of the celebrated accomplishment of a recent or soon-to-be college grad. The wording of the announcement should contain information on the location of the graduation ceremony, the times and dates specific to the course of study, and the graduate's individual accomplishments. School colors, personal information and future plans should also be added to the document. In addition, the individual personality of each graduate should dominate the tone of the announcement.

Things You'll Need

• Invitation design outline
• School colors
• School mascot/logo
• Graduate list

Instructions

1. Develop an outline. Write down the feature elements of the graduation announcement. Verify correct name spellings for students, school and degrees or accomplishments. Choose colors and fonts for the announcement while generating an image of the school logo or mascot. Organize this information for desktop publishing or commercial printer use.

2. Welcome the reader to attend the graduation ceremony or celebration. Invite the reader to join others in celebrating the graduation event. Indicate location and give directions by vehicle or public transportation. Use friendly terms and indicate the importance of the reader's participation.

3. Write an introductory greeting. Begin the announcement with an introductory greeting identifying the student, graduation date and location of the graduation. Choose a font that will fit the personality of the student and the importance of the event. Outline the student's accomplishments, personal interest and future plans. In addition, add place of birth and high school information.

4. List a schedule of events. List in chronological order the schedule of events that will be held during the graduation ceremony. For each item write down the commencement time for the event, then follow up with a brief description of the activity that will take place.

5. List the scheduled speakers and guests. List the names of the scheduled speakers and honored guests. Write the professional title, full name and speech topic of each scheduled participant. If possible, give a brief background on the personal and professional history of the speaker. Be sure to highlight the speaker's role in the graduation while indicating the scheduled appearance time.

6. Add the quotes, mottos and themes of the ceremony. Write down the quote, motto or theme associated with the individual or overall ceremony. Use phrases and terms that relate to the school or chosen field of study. In addition, include photos from the graduated course of study or photos that highlight the school's history, location or traditions.

References

• Made Man: How to Write Graduation Announcements