7 Things to Know About Knox's 2015 Commencement

Knox College's 170th Commencement exercises will be Sunday, June 7, and there's a lot to know about the event if you plan to attend, if you have a loved one who is participating, or if you simply enjoy a bit of pageantry.

For example, about 300 graduating seniors will receive their bachelor's degrees at the ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m. on the South Lawn of Old Main on the Knox campus.

Another key fact: Emmy Award-winning journalist Bill Whitaker, a correspondent on the long-running CBS News television program 60 Minutes, will deliver the Commencement address. During his 30-year career with CBS News, Whitaker has covered nearly all of the country's major news stories, including three presidential campaigns; served as a foreign correspondent; and reported a wide range of feature stories and profiles.

Whitaker will be one of three honorary degree recipients at Commencement. The others are June Cross, an Emmy Award-winning writer and producer; and Matthew Berg ‘00, CEO of a Kenya-based social enterprise technology company and one of Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People" in 2010.

Here are seven other things you need to know about 2015 Commencement at Knox.

1. Sunday, Sunday, Sunday! Yes, Commencement will be on a Sunday (not on a Saturday, as was Knox's long-standing practice). We can't repeat this too many times, so remember: Commencement falls on a Sunday.
2. Spectacular Saturday. Graduating seniors and their families have plenty they can do on Saturday, starting with the inaugural Grads Give Back service project from 9 to 11 a.m. Later on, catch the Knox-Galesburg Symphony Concert on the Lawn at 5 p.m. and the President's Dessert Reception starting at 8 p.m. End the day in a sparkly way with fireworks after dark.
3. No tickets required, unless... You don't need tickets to attend Commencement -- unless it is moved indoors because of severe weather.
4. Be prepared. Everybody prefers for Commencement to be outside. If weather forecasts for that day include drizzle or showers (but not lightning), consider bringing rain ponchos or umbrellas because there's a good chance Commencement still would happen on the South Lawn.
5. Can't attend Commencement in person? No problem. Watch it live on our YouTube channel.
6. Sharing is good. We'd love to see your Commencement photos and posts. Please share them with us on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, and use #knoxgrad as the hashtag.
7. More info. Keep an eye on www.knox.edu/commencement for the latest Commencement-related updates, such as best driving routes to campus -- which you'll want to check because some roads may be closed for another community event that is happening on Commencement day.