Native American Graduation Celebration & NASA Student Awards Guidelines
Native American Student Affairs Graduation Celebration will be held:
Date: May 8, 2026
Time: 4-6 p.m. Doors open at 3 p.m.
Location: Grand Ballroom, Student Union Memorial Center (SUMC), 3rd Floor
The official University of Arizona Commencement in Arizona Stadium takes place on Friday, May 15, 2026.
SECURITY & CLEAR BAG POLICY
University commencement and convocation ceremonies and celebrations are special events for all involved. Please show respect for everyone who has come to share in the experience. Individuals who violate Arizona Board of Regents policies, including engaging in disruptive behavior, may be accompanied outside the celebration area.
A-Team- Security and Event Services including UAPD will be present at the event.
Please DO NOT bring items including outside food or beverage, balloons, banners, signs, flags, glass, noisemakers or other common gift items into the venue. Guests and participating graduates must abide by the university's clear bag policy as well as any venue policies. No pets that are not service animals are allowed.
Student Union Memorial Center prohibited items:
- Air horns or large/oversized umbrellas
- Confetti, Flutterfetti, or silly string
- Balloons or inflatable items (e.g., beach balls)
- Poles, monopods, tripods
- Weapons: guns, ammunition, knives, box cutters
- Leatherman or similar tools
- Sharp and/or pointed objects (scissors, knitting needles, etc.)
- Mace, pepper spray, aerosols, or flammable liquids
- Explosives, fireworks, laser lights, or laser pointers
- Unopened packages or signs with sticks or poles
- Cans, bottles, or coolers
- Hoverboards, segways, scooters, roller skates, skateboards, or bicycles
- Unmanned aerial vehicles (drones)
Anyone entering the Grand Ballroom CANNOT enter with their cap and gown on. They must enter with their regalia in hand and put it on after they enter the building.
SEATING & PROCESSION
Participating graduates, you will need to enter the Diamond Atrium and check in at the door of the Grand Ballroom (follow all signs) and be directed to the “Ready Room" where you can finish preparing and meet up with your friends. Light snacks and a photo booth will be available. The “Ready Room” will open at 2:00 p.m. Please arrive by 3:00 p.m.
At 3:30 p.m., graduates will begin lining up in alphabetical order by last name. We are arranging seating in alphabetical order so that slides of each graduate can be shown as you walk across the stage. You will also be given a piece of paper to write your name so that the name readers can confirm your name before announcing it.
Flag bearers, tribal leaders, faculty, and graduates will process into the ceremony. At the end of the procession, graduates will be directed to sit within the designated student seating section.
During the graduate recognition part of the ceremony, students will process to the stage from their rows, in the order they are seated. There is no alphabetical order. Upon check-in, you will be given a NAME CARD. You will review and/or fill out your card to confirm your name and major(s) as you’d like to be announced on stage. When the procession is announced, you’ll be directed to follow staff directions to approach the stage. Once at the reader’s podium, you will hand the card to the reader before crossing the stage. (You’ll have a chance to make sure your name is spoken clearly and correctly.) At the other side of the stage, you will receive a stole, have it draped over your shoulders, and exchange handshakes with Academic and Tribal Leaders. You will be directed to exit the stage area, have your photo taken just off to the side of the stage, and then return to your seat. Then you will remain seated until all names are called to give each graduate equal time to be recognized.
At the end of the ceremony, Tribal Leaders, Faculty, and Graduates will recess out of the Grand Ballroom and down to the stairs of the Diamond Terrace to have a group photo taken. This is an integral part of the ceremony. After the group photo, then you may return to the Diamond Atrium to connect with your family and friends.
PICTURES / RECORDINGS
Family and friends may take photos of your moment on stage, but must adhere to the specific location guidelines for photography:
For Graduation Celebration in the Student Union Grand Ballroom, a professional photographer will capture each student as they cross the stage including a portrait with the Native American Student Affairs Backdrop after stepping off the stage. Photographs of the event including graduate portraits will be available via a shared URL. Guests/Families may NOT approach the stage or leave their seating area to take pictures but are welcome to take photos from their seats at any time.
We ask that anyone taking pictures please remain behind the ropes and return to their seats promptly. Event photographs will be featured on the Native American Student Affairs Page and Social Media Platforms.
Event Photo Release
By attending the Native American Student Affairs Graduation Celebration and Leadership Awards Ceremony, I grant permission to The Arizona Board of Regents, on behalf of The University of Arizona and its agents or employees (the “University”), to use photographs or images taken of me on Friday, May 8, 2026 at the Grand Ballroom, Student Union Memorial Center (the “Photos”) for publication in university publications such as recruiting brochures, promotional materials, newsletters, and magazines, and to use the Photos on display boards, websites, and to offer them for publications in other non-university newspapers, magazines and websites, without notifying me.
I agree to waive and release any and all claims against The University of Arizona and is contractors/licenses relating to my name, my likeness, the photos, and their uses and/or distribution in any version or media throughout the university, including without limitation, any rights and claims relation to royalties or compensation, editing, alteration, copyright, distribution, misappropriation, libel, false light, rights of privacy, and/or publicity.
General Seating
Seating is first-come first-serve. Door's open at 3pm. Accommodations are in place for elders and a reserved area marked by ropes for participating graduates, Tribal Leaders, faculty and Guest Speakers.
Disability Resource Center (DRC)
In collaboration with the DRC, accommodations are available at this event, including seating accommodations for those with a disability. DRC will have real-time captions to your smart device and assistive listening devices will be available in the Lobby at the Courtesy Desk. Sign Language Interpreters will be present. Please contact us at nasa@arizona.edu or notify a volunteer at the registration desk if needing any DRC accommodations.
Graduation Attire
Graduates may wear graduation regalia and/or Tribal regalia.
Programs
Volunteers will hand out printed programs at the ceremony entrance. Extra copies will be available.
Slides
We will display a continuous reel of celebratory student slides prior to the ceremony. During the naming of the graduates, students will be accompanied by a slide that contains the following
- Name
- Tribal Affiliation
- Major/Minor
- Graduate Photo
- Favorite quote or words thanking family/friends
If you have not submitted a photo to the NASA team, please contact us at, nasa@arizona.edu
Parking
NASA has 125 parking vouchers for the Second Street Garage, please see front desk when entering. In the event that the Second Street Garage overflows, the nearest parking garage is Cherry Ave Garage.
Locations (in proximity):
- Second Street Garage: 1340 E 2 St
- Cherry Ave Garage: 1641 E Enke Dr
- Tyndall Ave Garage: 880 E 4 St
Parking vouchers will not be given to UA staff/faculty, priority to guests.
LIVE STREAM
There will not be a livestream of this event.