Class Day May 23, 2012
8:30-10:00am
Dean's Award Breakfast
Dean's HouseThe Dean's Award honors graduating MBA students for making a positive impact on the HBS community and contributing to the well-being of society through exceptional acts of leadership.
Award recipients and their guests are invited.
10:30am-12noon
HBS Leadership Fellows Brunch
Spangler Center, Williams RoomThe HBS Leadership Fellows program gives a select group of graduating HBS students the chance to make an impact in nonprofit and public-sector organizations at a competitive salary for one year.
Fellows and their guests are invited.
2:30-4:00pm
Class Day Ceremony
Baker Lawn (rain or shine)MBA class presidents‘ welcome followed by faculty awards, a student speaker, and principal guest speaker Sheryl Sandberg (MBA 1995), Chief Operating Officer, Facebook.
Open to graduates, their guests, and HBS faculty and staff (no tickets required).
Previous Class Day Speakers — 2011
6:00-8:30pm
George F. Baker Scholar Reception & Dinner
Students who receive an M.B.A. with High Distinction degree are known as Harvard Business School's Baker Scholars.
Baker Scholars and their guests are invited.
Commencement May 24, 2012
6:30am
Morning Commencement Exercise Assembly
KresgeMBA degree candidates assemble in front of Kresge for procession to Harvard Yard for the Morning Commencement Exercise. Academic regalia required; tickets required for anyone not in academic regalia (two tickets distributed to each graduate).
6:45am
Opening of the Gates to Harvard Yard
Gates to Harvard Yard open for Morning Commencement Exercises (tickets required). HBS guests enter Tercentenary Theatre through Gate D on Massachusetts Avenue.
Limited seating; early arrival recommended (two tickets distributed to each graduate).
9:00-11:30am
Harvard University Commencement Exercises
Harvard Yard (rain or shine)The morning ceremony will be broadcast live from Harvard Yard on Comcast Cable (Channel 283 for Cambridge/Greater Boston area and Channel 12 for Boston/Brookline area). If unable to obtain tickets, guests may view the ceremony on the HBS campus in air-conditioned Burden Auditorium, Spangler Auditorium, or Spangler Grille (first come, first served).
11:30am-12:30pm
Lunch at Shad Hall and Tennis Courts
Shad Hall and Tennis CourtsGraduates and their guests are invited (five tickets distributed to each graduate).
12:30-2:45pm
HBS Diploma Ceremony
Baker LawnGraduates' guests and HBS faculty and staff are invited to watch graduates receive their diplomas on stage, rain or shine (no tickets required).
Harvard University Alumni Meeting and Commencement Address
Harvard YardOptional event held concurrently with reception at HBS. Graduates (now Alumni!) meet between Massachusetts Hall and Harvard Hall under the "Graduate Schools" banner. The afternoon activities will be broadcast live from Harvard Yard on Comcast Cable (Channel 283 for Cambridge/Greater Boston area and Channel 12 for Boston/Brookline area).
1:45pm
Procession of alumni and dignitaries
2:30pm
Remarks by keynote speaker Fareed Zakaria (PhD '93).
tickets required; three tickets distributed to each graduate
3:00-4:30pm
HBS Reception
Shad Tennis Courts (rain or shine)Graduates, their guests, and HBS faculty and staff are invited (no tickets required).
