🎓 School of Social Work Pinning & Hooding Ceremony
Date: Saturday, May 10, 2025
Time: 4:00–6:00 PM
Location: ASNMSU Center for the Arts (1000 E. University Avenue)
Dear Spring 2025 School of Social Work Graduates,
The Pinning & Hooding Ceremony is just around the corner! Please carefully review the important details below to help ensure a smooth, meaningful, and memorable event.
📍 Event Information
- Doors open at 3:30 PM for guests and student check-in
- Graduates must be in line by 3:50 PM for the processional – locate the door with a sign that reads “Graduate Entrance”
- The ceremony will begin promptly at 4:00 PM
- The QR code on your ticket links to the School of Social Work’s webpage with directions, parking info, and livestream access
⛔ Graduates not in line by 3:50 PM will not be permitted to walk on stage
🚗 Parking & Directions
- Accessible Parking: Horseshoe lot behind the Center for the Arts (outside Atkins Recital Hall)
- General Parking: Skeen Hall lot and other lots west of Espina Street
- For driving directions, visit Google Maps (1000 E. University Avenue)
Directions by Region
- North (Albuquerque): I-25 S → Exit 1 → Right on University Ave. → 1 mile to venue
- South (El Paso): I-10 W → I-25 N → Exit 1 → Right on University Ave. → 1 mile to venue
- East (Alamogordo): US-70 W → I-25 S → Exit 1 → Right on University Ave. → venue on left
- West (Deming): I-10 E → Exit 142 → Right on Main St. → Right on University Ave. → venue on right
👔 Attire Guidelines
- Students are encouraged to wear academic regalia to honor this milestone.
- If not wearing regalia, please wear comfortable, professional attire appropriate for the occasion.
- BSW students should bring or borrow a stole; MSW students must carry their hood and will be hooded on stage.
- To borrow regalia, contact Erica Tontodonati at ericat@nmsu.edu.
🎟️ Guest Information
- We are at maximum capacity. All guests—including children—must have a ticket due to fire code (466 occupants).
- No exceptions will be made for entry without a ticket.
- If you need an extra ticket, contact Avianna Amancio at avi_99@nmsu.edu (limited availability).
- Guests participating in pinning or hooding will be seated in reserved sections, labeled with both their name and the graduate’s.
- Guests will be called forward row by row by ushers and must be ready to move when cued.
- Note: Seating for pinners/hooders has changed since rehearsal to improve stage flow.
📸 Before the Ceremony
- Two free photo booths will be available; volunteers will assist with photos.
- Locate the side entrance to the stage. It will be labeled: Graduate Entrance. Ushers will be available to guide you.
🎓 Line-Up Instructions
- Follow signage to line up by BSW or MSW – The Door will be labeled Graduate Entrance.
- Students will be lined up alphabetically – faculty and staff will be there to assist.
- Dual degree recipients will line up at the end of the line.
- MSW graduates will hold their hoods folded on their laps until they are hooded.
- Faculty and staff will lead the procession.
🎉 Ceremony Flow
- Opening/Welcome
- Land Acknowledgement
- Remarks from the Dean
- Student Congratulations
- Keynote Address
- BSW Recognition
- BSSWA Speech
- BSW Pinning
- MSW Recognition
- GSSWA Speech
- MSW Hooding
- Dual Degree Hooding
- Special Student Accomplishments
- Social Work Oath
- Closing Remarks
📌 Pinning & Hooding Instructions
BSW Pinning
Begins with: “Thank you. And now, we begin the BSW Pinning Ceremony, led by Ted Nieto.”
- Ushers will cue your row
- Hand your name card to the announcer
- After your name is called:
- Pick up your pin from Professor Sanchez
- Meet your pinner center stage; after pinning, return to any open seat
- Your guest will return to their seat
MSW Hooding
Begins with: “Next, we recognize our Master of Social Work graduates...”
- Ushers will cue your row
- Hand your name card to the announcer
- After your name is called:
- Proceed to the center stage
- Meet your hooder; after hooding, return to any open seat
- Your guest will return to their seat
Dual Degree Hooding
Begins with: “Next, we recognize our dual degree recipients…”
- Ushers will cue your row
- Hand your name card to the announcer
- After your name is called:
- Walk to the center stage and meet your hooder
- Return to any open seat afterward
🪑 You do not need to return to your original seat order
🌟 Student Recognition
Be prepared to stand when your group is recognized:
- Crimson Scholars
- Graduate Honors
- Child Welfare Scholars
- TEACH Scholars
🎤 Social Work Oath
Led by Susie Facio, immediately following the student recognition segment.
🎓 End of Ceremony
At the prompt:
“Could I please have everyone stand and join me in one final congratulations for our 2025 graduating class?”
→ All students should rise.
→ Ushers will dismiss you from back to front
🥂 Post-Ceremony
- Refreshments in the lobby until 6:15 PM
- Photo booths remain open with volunteer assistance
🔁 Final Reminders
- 68 students are participating
- You must use the pinner/hooder you submitted—no changes can be made at this point
- Faculty/staff hooders should be personally confirmed by the graduate
- Guests are not permitted to walk up to the stage to take photos of their graduate being pinned or hooded. A professional photographer will capture each graduate’s moment. Photos will be sent to graduates in the days following the ceremony.
- Tickets are available in the School of Social Work front office (HSS Building, 2nd floor)
- Guests who pin/hood may sit in any open seat after returning from the stage
♿ Accessibility Reminder
If you haven’t already met with someone regarding your accessibility needs, please reach out to Erica Tontodonati at ericat@nmsu.edu as soon as possible so we can ensure appropriate arrangements are made for the ceremony.
💻 Livestream Access
- https://nmsu.zoom.us/j/86944667822
- Available via the QR code on your ticket
🎉 Congratulations again—we can’t wait to celebrate with you!
