Commencement 2025
Schedule of Events
May 16-17, 2025
Details of these activities and events may change by May 17. An up-to-date final schedule, noting time changes and locations, will be available upon your arrival on campus.
Friday, May 16
Periclean Scholar Awards Ceremony followed by Recognition for Graduating Honors Forum Seniors
Gannett Auditorium, Palamountain Hall
Held annually, the Periclean Scholar Awards competition recognizes excellence by awarding up to four prizes to seniors for distinguished projects in all disciplines. Periclean Scholar Awards recipients share the honor of this achievement at a ceremonial presentation of the project open to the College community. Following these presentations, Honors Forum members who are graduating seniors will receive their recognition medals. A reception will follow to celebrate graduating HF seniors and Periclean Scholar Awards recipients.
For additional information on Periclean Honors Forum, please contact Joseph Cermatori.
At The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery
a field of bloom and hum
Wachenheim Gallery, Malloy Wing
February 14, 2025 - June 29, 2025
The performative, abstract, and conceptual works in a field of bloom and hum exemplify one of its major inquiries: How can generous and open interpretative possibilities support new definitions of history, community, and queerness? In addition, public programs co-organized by faculty, such as films, dialogues, symposia, and workshops, will explore issues of history telling; theatricality; memory and loss; inclusion and identity formation; and the role of artists in building and defining queer communities. The exhibition’s intergenerational dialogues will serve as points of entry for new scholarly inquiry and can act as a model for novel modes of thinking and making.
Yvette Molina: A Promise to the Leaves
State Farm Mezzanine Gallery
October 21, 2023- September 14, 2025
Yvette Molina: A Promise to the Leaves is the fifth exhibition in a series that invites an artist to create a museum community space devoted to art, conversation, and contemplation. Yvette Molina presents new art and designs in this site-specific and evolving installation centered around the four elements—earth, air, water, fire—and a fifth constituent, the cosmos. In focusing on these ancient, fundamental substances, Molina reminds us that humans, plants, and all earthly beings are made of star stuff and survive by the elements. She encourages us to consider care as entangled within circles of life—care for one another, whether human or non-human, is care for ourselves and for all. Throughout the exhibition’s two years, Molina is inviting other artists to present their work in the space, bringing together multiple perspectives, styles, and materials and regularly re-energizing the installation’s balance between comfort and provocation.
Hyde Cabinet #28: Looking Toward The free state of Transplendency
Hyde Cabinet #28
March 8, 2025- July 27, 2025
fierce pussy is a collective of queer women artists who formed in New York City in 1991 with a focus on AIDS activism and who continue to advocate for LGBTQ rights, progressive voting, and other issues through public art.
Senior Thesis Art Exhibit
Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery
May 12–17, 2025
This exhibit showcases outstanding works in all media by senior studio-art majors.
Visit The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery website for more information on these exhibitions.
Main Gym, Williamson Sports Center
By invitation only.
Gannett Auditorium, Palamountain Hall
Induction ceremony for new members. Faculty, staff, students, and their families are welcome to attend. Reception follows.
Class of 2025 Brick Dedication Ceremony
Due to expected rain, this event has been moved to under the Case Walkway between
the Scribner Library and Case Center.
A brief ceremony for seniors, families, and friends to announce the senior class gift as well as the total amount contributed by the senior 2025 class, and dedicate the Class of 2025 brick pathway, given by the families of the Class of 2025 in honor of their graduating seniors. Each brick is engraved with the name of the student whose families participate in the Class of 2025 Senior Family Project.
Visit the Class of 2025 Parent and Family Giving page for more information.
President's Reception
Murray-Aikins Dining Hall, Second Floor
Due to expected thunderstorms, this event has been moved to the Murray-Aikins Dining
Hall, second floor.
President Marc C. Conner and Barbara Reyes-Conner greet seniors, their guests, trustees,
faculty and staff.
Saturday, May 17
Murray-Aikins Dining Hall, Skidmore College Campus
Families, friends, and seniors are welcome as guests of the College.
Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Spa State Park
Seniors arrive, pick up diplomas, and form processional.
Audience members are asked to be seated by this time.
114th Commencement Exercises
Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Spa State Park
Commencement Refreshments
Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Spa State Park
Come celebrate! Please join graduates, families, friends, faculty, and staff for
a celebratory refreshments following the Commencement Ceremony to acknowledge and
celebrate the wonderful accomplishments of Skidmore College's Class of 2025.
The Skidmore Shop will be open Friday, 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. with 15% off on branded merchandise.
On Saturday, in addition to their campus store hours of 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., the Skidmore Shop will have a pop-up location at Commencement. Great new merchandise and Skidmore swag will be available, including diploma frames, hats, hoodies, t-shirts, and branded other gifts items for the whole family. Join us in celebrating and commemorating your time at Skidmore College in style and with pride.
Skidmore's Commencement Exercises are held at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, located in the Saratoga Spa State Park, several miles from campus. The SPAC amphitheater is covered but not enclosed. This map will show parking, facilities, and points of interests.