Pinning & Hooding Ceremony Information

School of Social Work — Class of 2026

Date

Saturday, May 16, 2026

Time

4:00 – 6:00 PM

Location

ASNMSU Center for the Arts
1000 E. University Avenue

Day-of Schedule

3:30 PM Doors open for guests and graduate check-in. Free photo booths available in the lobby.
⚠ 3:50 PM Graduates must be in the processional line. Follow signage to the "Graduate Entrance" — ushers will assist.
4:00 PM Ceremony begins — processional led by faculty and staff.
6:00 PM Ceremony concludes. Refreshments in lobby until 6:15 PM. Photo booths remain open.

Parking & Directions

Parking
Accessible Horseshoe lot behind the Center for the Arts (outside Atkins Recital Hall)
General Skeen Hall lot and other lots west of Espina Street
parking map
Driving Directions by Region
From North Albuquerque: I-25 S → Exit 1 → Right on University Ave. → 1 mile to venue
From South El Paso: I-10 W → I-25 N → Exit 1 → Right on University Ave. → 1 mile to venue
From East Alamogordo: US-70 W → I-25 S → Exit 1 → Right on University Ave. → venue on left
From West Deming: I-10 E → Exit 142 → Right on Main St. → Right on University Ave. → venue on right

 

Or search 1000 E. University Avenue, Las Cruces, NM in Google Maps.

Note: Utilize the north or west entrance for the ASNMSU building. The doors on the east will be locked.

Tickets & Guest Information

Tickets
  • Each graduate may invite up to 4 guests. Additional tickets are limited and based on availability.
  • All guests — including children — must have a ticket. Only guests with tickets in hand will be allowed entry. Fire code is strictly enforced. No exceptions will be made for entry without a ticket.
  • Tickets are available at the School of Social Work front office, HSS Building, 2nd Floor.
  • For extra ticket requests, contact Sherry Cain at sherryac@nmsu.edu — limited availability, contact early.
Seating & Stage Protocol
  • Guests participating in pinning or hooding will be seated in a separate reserved section labeled with their name and the graduate's name. Ushers will call guests forward row by row — please be ready to move when cued. After returning from the stage, guests may sit in any open seat.
  • Guests are not permitted to approach the stage to photograph their graduate. A professional photographer will capture each moment. Photos will be sent to graduates in the days following the ceremony.
  • Note: No balloons allowed in the auditorium as they can rise to the ceiling and set off alarms.
Livestream

Register here to receive the Zoom link to view the ceremony virutally.

Graduate Information

Attire Guidelines
  • Graduates are encouraged to wear academic regalia to honor this milestone. If not wearing regalia, please wear comfortable, professional attire.
  • BSW graduates: Bring or wear a stole.
  • MSW graduates: The hood is required for MSW graduates. Please carry your hood — you will be hooded on stage.
  • To borrow regalia or a stole, contact Martin Arvizuo. Supplies are limited and will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Line-Up Instructions

Be in line by 3:50 PM. Late arrivals will not be permitted to walk on stage.

  • Follow signage to the "Graduate Entrance" and line up by degree: BSW or MSW. Dual degree recipients line up last. Graduates should line up alphabetically within their degree — faculty and staff will assist.
  • MSW graduates should carry their hood while waiting in line and hold it folded in their laps until hooded on stage.
  • Faculty and staff will lead the processional.
BSW Pinning Instructions
  • This part of the ceremony begins with: "And now, we begin the BSW Pinning Ceremony..."
  • When your row is cued by an usher, proceed backstage and hand your name card to the announcer backstage.
  • After your name is called: pick up your pin from the faculty member on the stage, then meet your pinner at center stage.
  • After pinning, return to any open seat in the graduate seating area on stage— you do not need to return to your original seat. Your guest will also return to their seat.
MSW Hooding Instructions
  • This part of the ceremony begins with: "Next, we recognize our Master of Social Work graduates..."
  • When your row is cued by an usher, proceed backstage and hand your name card to the announcer backstage.
  • After your name is called: proceed to center stage and meet your hooder.
  • After hooding, return to any open seat in the graduate seating area on stage— you do not need to return to your original seat. Your guest will also return to their seat.
Dual Degree Hooding Instructions
  • This part of the ceremony begins with: "Next, we recognize our dual degree recipients..."
  • When your row is cued by an usher, proceed backstage and hand your name card to the announcer backstage.
  • After your name is called: proceed to center stage and meet your hooder.
  • After hooding, return to any open seat in the graduate seating area on stage— you do not need to return to your original seat. Your guest will also return to their seat.

Ceremony Order

  • 1

    Opening / Welcome

  • 2

    Land Acknowledgement

  • 3

    Remarks from the Dean

  • 4

    Student Congratulations

  • 5

    Keynote Address

  • 6

    BSW Recognition

  • 7

    BSW Student Association Speech

  • 8

    BSW Pinning

  • 9

    MSW Recognition

  • 10

    Graduate Student Association Speech

  • 11

    MSW Hooding

  • 12

    Dual Degree Hooding

  • 13

    Special Student Accomplishments

    Stand when your group is called: Crimson Scholars, Graduate Honors, and Child Welfare Scholars.

  • 14

    Social Work Oath

  • 15

    Closing Remarks

    When prompted, all graduates rise. Ushers will dismiss rows from back to front.

Accessibility & Contacts

Accessibility

If you or a guest has accessibility needs, please contact Sherry Cain as soon as possible so appropriate arrangements can be made for the ceremony.

Key Contacts
Name Role Email
Sherry Cain Tickets & Accessibility sherryac@nmsu.edu
Martin Arvizuo Regalia / Stole Borrowing jarvizuo@nmsu.edu

Ticket pickup: School of Social Work front office, HSS Building, 2nd Floor.