About 300 graduating seniors will pick up their degrees at Knox College's 171st Commencement exercises on Sunday, June 5. The event will take place at 10 a.m. on the South Lawn of Old Main.

The 2016 Commencement speaker is U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin. A Democrat from Springfield, Durbin is Illinois' senior senator and convener of its bipartisan congressional delegation. He also serves as assistant Democratic leader, the second highest-ranking position among Senate Democrats. Durbin sits on the Senate Judiciary, Appropriations, and Rules Committees, and is the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Constitution and the Appropriations Committee's Defense subcommittee.

He will be one of three honorary degree recipients at Commencement. The others are Brenda J. Child, a leading scholar on American Indian history; and Chad Pregracke, founder of Living Lands & Waters, a non-profit organization dedicated to cleaning up and preserving our nation's rivers.

Here are six other things to know about Commencement.

1. Super Saturday

A lot is happening on campus for graduating seniors and their families on the day before Commencement. For example, the Horizons Exhibit of Student Research and Creative Works starts at 1 p.m., the Knox-Galesburg Symphony Concert on the Lawn will be at 5 p.m., and the President's Dessert Reception—plus fireworks after dark!—starts at 8 p.m.

2. Shoutout for "First Gens"

New to the Commencement schedule this year is the First Generation Reception. The event, which recognizes graduating seniors who are also first-generation students, will be from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 4, in the Petrovich Atrium of Alumni Hall. The program will include remarks from a first-generation faculty member and student, as well as a group photo of the first-generation graduates.

3. Be Prepared (Part One)

When heading to campus on Sunday morning, be on the lookout for street closures and a short detour in connection with another event in downtown Galesburg. Keep an eye on www.knox.edu/commencement to stay updated on this and other Commencement-related information.

4. Be Prepared (Part Two)

Commencement exercises will be outside, unless there is severe weather, such as lightning. If the forecast calls for rain or drizzle, consider bringing umbrellas or ponchos because there's a good chance that Commencement would still take place on the South Lawn. If the weather is truly severe, Commencement will move inside to the T. Fleming Fieldhouse.

5. Share on Social

We love to see everyone's photos and memories at Commencement. Please share them with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc., by using the hashtag #KnoxGrad. We'll share some of your best posts on Knox's social media channels.

6. Watch Online

If you can't attend Commencement in person, check it out on Knox's YouTube channel, where it will be streamed live.