Commencement activities will get under way on Sunday, May 31, with three events honoring Princeton’s graduating students.

The Baccalaureate service will take place at 2 p.m. in the University Chapel. The speaker will be U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus, a Princeton graduate alumnus and commander of the U.S. Central Command.

Admission is by ticket only. The Baccalaureate service will be simulcast on a screen outside of the chapel as well as in Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall; McCosh 10 and 50; McCormick 101; and Betts Auditorium, School of Architecture; tickets are required at the simulcast sites.

The ceremony also will be webcast live at www.princeton.edu/WebMedia and will be archived for later viewing at the same site.

The Pan-African and Latino graduation ceremonies, sponsored by the Fields Center, also are scheduled for May 31.

The Pan-African Graduation will be held at 5:30 p.m. in Richardson Auditorium. The event is intended to celebrate the achievements of graduates from the African diaspora and to reflect on the unique cultural experiences of students from Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and the United States. The ceremony will include the presentation of kente stoles to graduates as well as musical and religious elements drawn from different Pan-African traditions.

Michael Eric Dyson, a Princeton graduate alumnus and the University Professor of Sociology at Georgetown University, will deliver the keynote address. He will speak on the theme of “Sankofa,” a West African custom that means “going forward while looking backward.”

The Pan-African Graduation is open to the public. It is cosponsored by the Center for African American Studies, the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and the Office of the Vice President for Campus Life.

The Latino Graduation is set for 7 p.m. Sunday in the Chancellor Green Rotunda. The keynote speakers are Alexandra Vazquez, an assistant professor of English and African American studies, and David Abalos, a visiting professor of politics. The event also will include a dinner, music and remarks from graduating students.

The Latino Graduation is open to members of the University community. It is cosponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Campus Life, the Graduate School’s Office of Diversity and Academic Affairs, the Latino Graduate Student Association and the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students.

Those interested in attending the Pan-African or Latino graduations should RSVP by Friday, May 22, to caf@princeton.edu or call 258-5494 with questions.

Graduation activities will continue with the Class Day ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 1, on Cannon Green featuring an address by “CBS Evening News” anchor Katie Couric. The Hooding ceremony for advanced degree candidates will begin at 5 p.m. Monday in McCarter Theatre. The Commencement ceremony is slated for 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 2, on the lawn in front of Nassau Hall. President Tilghman will address the graduates.

For more information, visit www.princeton.edu/~vp/commencement.

Alumni, families to visit campus for Reunions

Alumni and their families will return to campus Thursday through Sunday, May 28-31, for Reunions activities.

Highlights of the weekend will include: the annual P-rade throughout campus beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday; alumni-faculty forums and department open houses during the day on Friday and Saturday; a career networking program at 3 p.m. Friday in the Frist Campus Center Multipurpose Rooms; the second annual “Battle of the Alumni Bands” at 11 a.m. Friday in the Dillon Gymnasium courtyard; and performances by groups including Quipfire!, Theatre Intime, the Prince-ton University Players and Triangle Club as well as receptions and student/alumni arch sings on Friday and Saturday evenings.

The University Orchestra will present its annual lawn concert at 8 p.m. Saturday on Finney and Campbell fields. Fireworks will follow at 9:15 p.m. Both events are open to the entire community.

All alumni and University representatives once again will be required to have wristbands to participate in Reunions activities in the major reunion headquarters courtyards (wristbands are not required for attending lectures, watching the P-rade or attending the concert and fireworks).

Faculty and staff who ordered wristbands in advance from the Alumni Association may pick them up during the following times at Maclean House: 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 27; 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 11 p.m. Thursday, May 28; and 7 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 29-30.

For more information on Reunions activities, visit www.alumni.princeton.edu/main/goinback/reunions/reunions_2009/index.xml or call 258-1900. For the first time, attendees also can access the Reunions schedule and other key content on their smartphones via the Reunions mobile site at m.princeton.edu/reunions.