2023 Baccalaureate Celebration
This event will also be livestreamed
Event Details:
Location
Frost Amphitheater
351 Lasuen St
Stanford, CA 94305
United States
This event is open to:
A bookend to students' Opening Convocation held their first year, Baccalaureate at Stanford is a multifaith celebratory gathering for graduating seniors, graduate students, and professional students, as well as their families and friends.
It is a student-led commemoration acknowledging the spiritual contribution to the education of the whole person, organized under the auspices of the Office for Religious and Spiritual Life (ORSL). In addition to lively music from culturally diverse backgrounds, the program includes readings from different communities and perspectives which represent the wide range of religious traditions represented within the OSRL by over 30 organizations of Stanford Associated Religions (SAR).
Live Broadcasts and Recordings
The ceremony will be live-streamed on this website. The ceremony will also broadcast live on Stanford's radio station KZSU FM 90.1 and on kzsu.stanford.edu.
A video recording of the Baccalaureate celebration will be available on Stanford's YouTube channel following the event.
Baccalaureate Speaker
(Image credit: Lorin Klaris Photography)
Rabbi Angela Warnick Buchdahl, an innovative worship leader and the first Asian American to be ordained as a cantor or rabbi in North America, will be the speaker for the Baccalaureate celebration during 2023 Commencement Weekend at Stanford.
“The breadth of Rabbi Buchdahl’s perspective will be well suited for our beautifully diverse religious and spiritual community at Stanford,” said Tiffany Steinwert, dean for religious and spiritual life at Stanford.
Baccalaureate Student Speaker
Since 2005, the Office for Religious Life has hosted a student speaker contest, where a graduating senior offers his/her reflections into their own spiritual journey during their time at Stanford, including hopes and dreams for the future for the entire class.
Stanford senior Lusciana Gomez is the 2023 Baccalaureate student speaker. Lusciana is graduating with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Astronomy. This fall she will begin the coterminal Master’s program in Community Health and Prevention Research before applying to dental school. In her free time, she loves to perform stand-up comedy and plan her future dental reality TV show. Lusciana can usually be found in the anatomy lab or at her nearest Chipotle. She will always be grateful to the friends and mentors she met at Stanford. Read the announcement.
Past winners and available texts can be found at the Office for Religious and Spiritual Life.
General Event Information
For the comfort of families and guests: The following suggestions may make Baccalaureate more enjoyable.
- Bags and items (such as water bottles, seat cushions, etc.) must adhere to the Clear Bag Policy.
- Dress for the heat; light clothing is advisable.
- Hats, visors, and sun block are highly recommended.
- Limited water refill stations will be available but you may wish to bring your own water as well.
- Umbrellas will not be permitted, as they block the view of other guests.
- Smoking is prohibited in outdoor spaces holding events during the weekend.
Accessibility Information
Parking
Roth Way, between Palm Drive and Lasuen Street is reserved for disability parking. Guests with state-issued disability parking placard/plates (any state) or temporary disability parking permits are encouraged to park on Roth Way and then continue to the Lasuen Gate to enter Frost, which is about 1-2 blocks in distance. View the Frost Map for accessible routes.
Accessible Entrance
The accessible entrance (step-free route to seating area) to Frost is via the Lasuen Gate near the corner of Lasuen Street and Roth Way. Once inside the gate, proceed through the tunnel to enter Frost. NOTE: The Galvez Gate is not on an accessible route to enter Frost for those using wheelchairs/mobility devices and/or have limited mobility.
Mobility Assistance
A limited golf cart shuttle service will be available on Roth Way and at the Galvez Gate to transport guests needing assistance to the Lasuen Gate. Golf carts will provide return service to these locations immediately following Baccalaureate. No advanced registration is required for this service.
Seating
Wheelchair seating and a limited mobility seating area is available and ushers will assist guests as needed once inside the Lasuen Gate. While seating is outside and most seating will be in direct sunlight, there will be some shaded seating options available. All seating is first come, first served.