Commencement

Commencement Ceremony 2025

You made it! Now is the time to honor this achievement and we are all excited to see you in the Commencement Ceremony. The following information will help you make this important celebration more meaningful and unforgettable. 

If you have any further questions, please check out the Frequently Asked Questions section or contact [email protected].

Commencement Speaker 2025

Peter Gould
Strategic Design Leader & Founder of Gould Studios

Peter Gould is a design leader and entrepreneur. He advocates for heart-centered design that aligns spiritual aspirations and strategic design practice. Over 20 years his clients have included Apple, Google, Disney, the United Nations and a diverse creative portfolio for governments, startups, and global nonprofits.

His contributions to design have resulted in international acclaim and awards. Peter is a recipient of the Stanford Certificate of Innovation & Entrepreneurship and has lectured Design Thinking at the University of Technology, Sydney. He was appointed as a UNHCR Ambassador in recognition of his efforts supporting refugees.

Peter’s book and educational platform, The Heart of Design, has helped hundreds of teams and individuals worldwide to align their spiritual aspirations with meaningful creative and professional paths.

At the intersection of design, spirituality, and entrepreneurship, Peter aims to inspire a global like-hearted movement and grassroots creative communities for a bright, heart-centered future.

Watch the 2025 Commencement Address below.

Valedictorian and Salutatorian

The titles Valedictorian and Salutatorian are bestowed on the students who hold the highest academic ranking among the graduation class. They have respectively earned the highest and second highest cumulative grade point average (CGPA) as assessed at the end of the Fall semester prior to the graduation term. 

The Valedictorian is invited to deliver the Student Address during the Commencement Ceremony. In the case of two equally qualified students, two Co-Valedictorians are selected.

Haneen Mohssen Darwich (BFA in Interior Design) has been announced as Valedictorian of the Class of 2025. Anastasia V Marinova (BFA in Graphic Design) has been announced as Salutatorian.

Class Marshals

The Class Marshals are appointed by the Academic Program Department Chairs/Directors in recognition of their services to the academic departments. Class Marshals lead their classmates in the commencement procession and are distinguished by a special sash as part of their regalia.

Class Marshals are announced during the Commencement Fair and will receive their special sash during the official part of the fair.

Class Marshals for the Class of 2025 are:

• Fatima Khalid Al Moftah, BA in Art History
• Halah Murad Marouf Rafiq Mahmoud, BFA in Fashion Design
• Minatuallah Khalil Al Aswad, BFA in Graphic Design
• Ayah Abdelrahim Ali ElFihail, BFA in Interior Design
• Ghada Abdulla Alkuwari, BFA in Painting + Printmaking
• Yasamin Shaikhi, MFA in Design

Class Champion

The Class Champion is competitively selected by the senior academic leadership from the graduating class of undergraduate students who earned a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 360 or higher at the end of the term prior to graduation. The Dean and the Class Champion lead the graduating class into the Qatar Foundation Convocation Ceremony that is usually held soon after VCUarts Qatar’s Commencement Ceremony.

The Class Champion is announced during the Commencement Fair and will receive a special sash during the official part of the fair.

Class Champion for the Class of 2025 is Amani Azhar (BFA in Graphic Design).

Commencement Ceremony Invitations

The VCUarts Qatar Commencement Ceremony is a closed event that requires a ticket for entry. Each graduating student will be issued up to six tickets for her/his guests. 

Graduands will need to register the number of their required tickets by filling the Graduand Information Form prior to picking them up from the Student Life & Engagement Office in April 2025.

If your parents are members of the royal family or VIPs you need to register in the Commencement Ceremony Attendance Form. Two VIP seats per student can be allocated for students whose parents are members of the royal family or VIPs. Please note that this does not automatically guarantee VIP seats for the Qatar Foundation Convocation Ceremony at Qatar Foundation.

Attending VCUarts Qatar Commencement Ceremony – Important Reminders to family and friends attending the ceremony

Welcome to the VCUarts Qatar Commencement Ceremony!

Commencement is a momentous occasion for the soon-to-be graduates. It marks the pinnacle of their academic journey and the beginning of the next chapter of their lives. VCUarts Qatar celebrates this milestone with formal pomp and circumstance befitting their achievements. To ensure the dignity and solemnity of this occasion, guests attending the ceremony are reminded of the following:

Please refer back often as we are constantly updating this page with additional information during the next few months. 

Ceremony Details

VCUarts Commencement Ceremony is held on Monday, May 5, 2025 in Multaqa at Multaqa/ Student Center in Education City, Doha. The ceremony will last approximately 1.5 – 2 hours.

Commencement Program

Every guest attending the in-person Commencement Ceremony will have the opportunity to pick up a printed program when they arrive to commemorate this special occasion. Friends and family can check out the program here and even download their own PDF copy free.

Tickets

In-person attendance to the VCUarts Qatar Commencement Ceremony is by invitation only. Tickets are checked at the registration desk, a No Ticket No Entry Policy is strictly implemented at the venue. 

Attendance

The doors to the ballroom close between 3:45 p.m. and 4:10 p.m. Guests should arrive and be seated by 3:45 p.m. No guest will have access to the ballroom during the Processional. The ballroom will be reopened to guests after the processional.

It is strongly discouraged to bring children under three years old in the ballroom. Children and their caretakers may wait in the reception and/or majlis area during the ceremony.

Photography

VCUarts Qatar official photographers and videographers will be present during the event to capture the moment. Family members and guests may take photos from their seats. However, they will not be allowed to go and stand near the stage to take photos. Personal photographers are not allowed in the venue.

Special Accommodations

The VCUarts Qatar commencement ceremony is an inclusive, accessible event to enable all guests to engage fully. To request special accommodations or inquire about accessibility, Graduands must indicate this in their Graduand Information Form on behalf of their guests.

Special seating for guests with disabilities plus one companion is available on the first two rows of the general audience seating. Depending on availability, guests and their companion will be seated as close as possible to this section.

Translation headsets are available at the reception for guests who wish to listen to the ceremony in Arabic. Guests using the translation headsets must return them to the Reception Desk after the ceremony.

Food and Drinks

Only bottled water is allowed inside the ballroom, no other food and drinks are allowed.

Transportation and Parking

Complimentary parking is available at the VCUarts Qatar parking, Green Spine parking and the Ceremonial Court parking. Shuttle buses operate between these parkings and Multaqa / Student Center between 2 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. as well as from 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Valet parking is available at the valet parking entrance of Multaqa/Student Center. Please note that valet parking fees apply.

Multaqa Map

Dress Code

VCUarts Qatar Commencement Ceremony is traditionally a formal event. Proper business casual attire or national clothing are recommended for all guests.

Etiquette

All guests to the VCUarts Qatar Commencement Ceremony are expected to respect fellow attendees who have come to share this momentous occasion with our graduands. Everyone is expected to observe the following general etiquette during the ceremony.

• Mobile phones should be turned off or put in silent mode throughout the ceremony.
• Guests should remain seated during the Processional and Recessional.
• Guests arriving late should wait until the doors reopen and are ushered to the remaining available seats.
• Guests should refrain from going in and out of the ballroom during the ceremony.
• Balloons are not allowed inside the ballroom. Guests can leave them at the reception desk for collection after the ceremony.
• During the conferment of degrees, we ask guests to be considerate of others and remain in their seats to avoid blocking the view of other guests and the ceremony is not disrupted.

Broadcast Information

We recognize the importance of the VCUarts Commencement Ceremony to our graduands and their families and friends. If you are unable to attend in person but would like to witness this memorable event, the ceremony is broadcast live and is later made available on-demand.

Graduation Gifts

As part of their graduation, VCUarts Qatar graduands receive a gift from the University

Congratulations Class of 2025!

We are excited for the culmination of your academic journey. Please find below important information that will help you prepare for this event.

• Counting Down to Commencement
• Commencement Ceremony 2025
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Archive

The VCUarts Qatar Commencement Ceremony is organized by the Strategic Engagement Department.

For further questions and concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Important Dates

• March 12, 2025: Commencement Fair & Pre-Commencement Suhoor
• March 18-20, 2025: Graduation Photoshoot
• April 2025: Academic Regalia Distribution
• May 5, 2025: Commencement Ceremony
• May 6, 2025: Qatar Foundation Convocation Ceremony

Counting Down to Commencement

Welcome Class of 2025!

The date of your graduation is coming up and we want to prepare you for this important milestone of your life. There are various events lined up before the actual Commencement Ceremony in May. The following information will help you make this important celebration more meaningful and unforgettable.

If you have any further questions and/or clarifications, please contact [email protected].

Commencement Fair

Every spring, VCUarts Qatar invites its graduands to gather for the Commencement Fair that kick-starts the countdown for their big day in May – the Commencement Ceremony.

At the Commencement Fair and the Pre-Commencement Suhoor the class marshals and class champion are announced as well as the preliminary Latin Honors. Graduands receive their special accessories based on these honors. They can order their graduation gowns and class rings. Various booths provide useful information on their transition from student to alum, from student life to work life.

Academic Regalia

Academic regalia is the dress worn by faculty and graduates during commencement ceremonies. It goes back to traditions practiced in the fourteenth and fifteenth century universities in England.

VCUarts Qatar’s academic regalia consists of a graduation gown, a graduation cap with a tassel and a stole. MFA students wear an additional hood in brown. BFA and BA students wear specific student stoles, while class marshal or the class champion wear special stoles identifying these roles. Graduates receiving Latin Honors also wear special cords reflecting their honors.

At VCUarts Qatar, academic regalia is available through the bookstore. The VCUarts Qatar bookstore has gowns available in various sizes. Students either rent their gown from the bookstore or have it tailored to their size. Our trusted tailor will be present with a booth during the Commencement Fair to take your order. All graduating students will receive the other accessories that are part of the regalia prior to the ceremony.

Faculty can borrow regalia from the bookstore for the ceremony with the specific stoles for faculty and all required accessories.

Please refer to the guide to your academic regalia for further information.

Class Rings

The official VCU class ring is a lasting symbol of your academic achievements and a constant reminder of your lifelong connection to VCU. Fellow alumni wear VCU rings. The rings provide a means of instantaneous recognition, often serving as a wonderful catalyst for triggering conversations of VCU affiliations and memories. The ring seller is available during the Commencement Fair for you to preorder your rings. 

Graduation Photo Shoot

VCUarts Qatar organizes a special photo shoot for the graduands to have their portraits taken. 

Please note: Students have the option to decide whether they want to have their photos published or not. If they opt to have their photos published the photos will be shared with Qatar Foundation and may be included in VCUarts Qatar and Qatar Foundation’s future publications, press and social media releases as well as other communication materials. 

Archive