Celebrating Our Seniors
SLICE and the Alumni Association partner throughout the year to help to shape the final academic year before a student’s graduation, celebrate the achievement of becoming a senior and a CMU graduate, and get students excited about becoming alumni. The goals of the program are to:
- Celebrate the triumph of reaching senior year
- Build social networks among seniors
- Instill a sense of unity and community among the senior class
- Encourage a strong institutional affinity
- Urge active engagement in the 100K+ alumni network
- Expand students’ experiences within the city of Pittsburgh
Senior Week 2025: May 5-9, 2025
Senior week is almost here!
It's time to celebrate YOU! Join your fellow Class of 2025 peers in some exclusive trips, events, and activities.
Please note: Several of the below trips and activities have limited capacity and will require advance registration. Tickets are projected to go live on TartanConnect on Tuesday, April 29th at 9am.
Due to high demand, spots for some activities may be available using a lottery form. Some activities and trips are still being finalized; check back later for the most up to date schedule of events and ticket links.
Schedule of Events:
*Some events, activities to be added at a later date.
Monday, May 5th
Senior Snapshots
11am-2pm
On-Campus: Merson Courtyard, East-West Walkway and Triangles
Explore campus and snag snazzy snapshots in your regalia with the CMU letters, the Scotty statue and other campus landmarks. We’ll also have cornhole, spikeball and other games to enjoy with your friends.
Senior Week Social Media Giveaway
All Day: Monday, May 5 - Wednesday, May 7
Check out the SLICE Instagram page on Monday, May 6 to learn how to enter the prize giveaway and win some CMU Alumni gifts from the campus store!
Tuesday, May 6th
Skyline Tour
12-2pm (Multiple time slots)
Exclusive opportunity for a guided tour up to the top of Wean Hall! Get a birds-eye view of campus and take stunning photos with CMU and Oakland skylines as your background.
Closed-toe shoes required.
Spots on these tours will be allocated using a lottery. To register your interest in participating, please complete the interest form by Thursday, May 1 at 11:59pm.
Tartan Tuesday: Senior Exclusive!
12pm-5pm
Alumni House
Swing by Alumni House to spin the Tartan Wheel one last time and win some CMU apparel and prizes. New swag has been added for the final Tartan Tuesday of the year, and participants can increase their chances of winning prizes by joining our Tartan Tuesday End of Year Raffle.
Senior Sips: Beer-tasting at Brew Gentlemen
5pm-8:30pm
Brew Gentlemen Brewery
Tasty drinks, good food, and great friends - what more could you ask for? Enjoy a beer tasting, a glass or two of your favorite beer, and dinner. Bus transportation will be provided from CMU.
Advance Ticket Purchase Required
Wednesday, May 7th
Senior Picnic!
2pm-5pm
On Campus (Merson Courtyard, Triangles, East/West Walkway)
Stop by for some sweet treats and fun games!
The Senior Picnic is the perfect opportunity to hang out with friends, family, and fellow Class of 2025 grads. Featuring: 18-hole mini golf, lawn games, screen printing with the Andy Warhol museum, sweet treats and more! No registration required, just drop in.
Get to know the Alumni Association!
2pm-5pm
On campus at the Senior Picnic
Enjoy a treat for the first 150 seniors from one of Pittsburgh’s most popular food trucks. Alumni Relations staff will be onsite to let you know how to stay connected with CMU post-graduation. Don’t forget to grab your exclusive senior gift!
Sponsored by the Carnegie Mellon Alumni Association.
Thursday, May 8th
Bouldering Trip12pm-2:00pm
Iron City Boulders
Try your hand (and foot!) at bouldering! Join fellow seniors for a private indoor climbing experience at Iron City Boulders. This trip includes shoe rental, Boulder 101 Lesson for new climbers, and a pass for the gym that’s good all day long.
Participants will need to use public transportation (instructions will be provided) or provide their own transportation to the gym.
Advance Ticket Purchase Required
Grad Cap Decorating with SLICE!
1:00pm-3:00pm
Wean Commons
Graduate in style! Stop by for some last minute crafting, decorating your graduation cap to show off your personality and accomplishments.
A selection of crafting materials, stickers, glue guns, and crafting tools will be provided. Please bring your own cap!
Senior Toast
3:30pm-4:30pm
Rangos Ballroom
Join fellow 2024-2025 graduating seniors and raise a class in celebration of this milestone and all of your accomplishments. This event is for undergraduate students only. Register now!
Friday, May 9th
Visit the Pittsburgh Zoo!9:30am-5:30pm - Stay as long as you’d like
Pittsburgh Zoo (7370 Baker St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206)
Discounted day passes to visit the Pittsburgh Zoo, exclusively for 2025 graduating Seniors! Check the zoo off your Pittsburgh bucket list.
Transportation will not be provided from CMU but the zoo is easily accessible by taking the 75 PRT bus from Ellsworth and Morewood.
Advance Ticket Purchase Required
Student Commencement Speaker Selection Process
Call for Student Commencement Speakers
Each year, Carnegie Mellon University chooses one student to represent their graduating class at the campus-wide Commencement ceremony in May. The selected student speaker is given the unique opportunity to speak directly to their classmates, staff, faculty members, families, and other guests with an address of their own creation.
Last year’s student speaker was Sarah Chen, who was selected to represent the graduating undergraduate and graduate Class of 2024.
Selection Process:
o Students interested in applying to be the student commencement speaker should complete the online application. The application consists of reflective questions, an overview and draft of the speech, a copy of the applicant's resume, and a letter of recommendation from a staff or faculty member.
o A selection committee consisting of faculty, staff, and students reviews all applications and interviews candidates. Applicants are judged on how well they represent the ideals and values of Carnegie Mellon University.
o Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply for the speaker position, provided they are in good standing with the university and that they are graduating (or graduated) in one of the following months: December 2024, May 2025, August 2025
o The student speaker is required to work with a coach to revise and refine their speech from the time of the selection through the graduation ceremony.
If you have any questions about the process or the selection, please feel free to contact Justin Pearl at jpearl@andrew.cmu.edu or via phone at 412-268-8704.
Senior Portraits
Scheduling your Senior Portrait Session
Look out for an email from Lauren Studios to schedule your in-person senior portrait! 2024-2025 dates for Senior Portraits are listed below. Photos will be taken in room CUC 303 (3rd floor of the Cohon University Center).
- September 16-20, 2024
- September 23-27, 2024
- September 30- October 4, 2024
- October 7-11, 2024
- January 21-24, 2025
- January 27-31, 2025
- February 3-7, 2025
- February 10-14, 2025
- March 10 - 14, 2025
- Check your CMU email inbox for a message from info@laurenstudios.com to retrieve your Client ID.
- Visit LaurenStudios.com
- Create an account by clicking the orange tab
- Enter your Client ID and last name
- Follow the prompt to schedule your photo session
If you are unable to locate your Client ID, contact info@laurenstudios.com.
Lauren Studios will also be printing a Senior Photobook that will include senior portraits. SLICE will be including photos from your Orientation, Spring Carnival over the years, Graduation Ceremony, and other notable student life pictures. You will be able to order your Senior Photobook directly with Lauren Studios. Photobooks will be shipped early Fall 2024 (please have these mailed to your permanent address, not CMU/Pittsburgh).
Retiring "The Thistle" Yearbook & Senior Portraits
In consideration of trends around the country related to the physical printing of yearbooks and the continued evolution of technology as a more sustainable form of communication and archive, CMU student leaders made the difficult decision to sunset The Thistle physical yearbook. CMU will continue to celebrate its graduating classes in a myriad of other ways by CMU departments, colleges, and university communications, as well as seek out new and innovative ways to commemorate CMU’s classes.
Graduating students leave long lasting impressions and impacts on campus, and CMU is grateful and better for their investment in the university community. Celebrating their work and cataloging it for historical purposes is an important responsibility. The Office of Student Leadership, Involvement, and Civic Engagement (SLICE) will continue to highlight and celebrate graduating students through long-standing and important traditions including:
- Student Commencement Speaker
- Senior Week
- Senior Leadership Recognition
- Senior Engagement Strategy
Additionally, moving forward, SLICE will offer the opportunity for undergraduate seniors to have their professional portraits taken and be included in a photobook, which will be available for purchase through Lauren Studios.
Once campus life returns to a more typical year, The Tartan student newspaper hopes to return to printing a dedicated Commencement issue, featuring highlights of the graduating class throughout the four years leading up to that year’s ceremony.
For questions about this transition or the photobook, please email slice@andrew.cmu.edu. If you have ideas about how to celebrate our graduating students, please send them to commencement@andrew.cmu.edu.
Senior Resources
Whether you're looking for academic support, career advice, an alumni community, or ways to socialize with your peers, the University has many different valuable resources that can be helpful.
Start off with some tips on making the most out of your senior year and goals to finish strong from your Tepper Academic Advisors!