May 2027 Chemistry Convocation Ceremony
Sunday, May 16, 2027
2 pm (doors open at 1 pm)
Tryon Festival Theatre (map)
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
Reception to follow 3-5 pm in the Illini Union South Lounge
The Department of Chemistry Convocation Ceremony is a celebration of our chemistry graduates' academic achievements and marks the culmination of their educational journey. We are honored to have Illinois chemistry alumnus Milan Mrksich (B.S., '89) as our speaker in 2027.
Chemistry Convocation is fully dedicated to chemistry bachelor's, master's, and PhD degree candidates. During the ceremony, students wear graduation gowns, caps, and hoods that symbolize their academic achievement and are called by name to receive their diplomas. This is also when the masters or doctoral hooding ceremony takes place, during which candidates are recognized and hooded, symbolizing the completion of their program. Several Chemistry Convocation departmental awards are announced during the ceremony.
Chemistry Convocation is one of several ceremonies held for graduates:
- Department of Chemistry Convocation Ceremony (Sunday, May 16)
- University-wide Illinois Commencement Ceremony (Saturday, May 15)
- Graduate College Doctoral Hooding Ceremony (Thursday, May 13; graduate students only)
Chemistry graduates may choose to participate in any or all events; registration for the university and Graduate College ceremonies is handled separately from Chemistry Convocation (details below).
2027 Speaker
Alumnus Milan Mrksich (B.S., ’89) is the Henry Wade Rogers Professor at Northwestern University in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, and Cell and Molecular Biology. He is also the Associate Director for Technology at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Director of the Center for Synthetic Biology.
At Illinois, he was an undergraduate research assistant in the lab of Steven C. Zimmerman, professor of chemistry. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1989 and went on to finish his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology. After a postdoctoral fellowship with Professor George M. Whitesides at Harvard University, Mrksich was appointed in 1996 as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at The University of Chicago. In 2000, he was promoted to Associate Professor of Chemistry, then Professor in 2003, and Henry Wade Rogers Professor in 2011.
In 2022, Mrksich established two scholarships in Chemistry at Illinois—the Milan Mrksich Scholarship for Undergraduate Research, and to honor Professor Zimmerman, he also established the Steven C. Zimmerman Scholarship for Undergraduate Research.
Registration
Students eligible to participate in the May 2027 Department of Chemistry Convocation Ceremony include:
- Students graduating in Summer 2026, Fall 2026, or Spring 2027
- Bachelor’s degree candidates with 13 or fewer hours remaining who expect to complete their degree requirements by August 2027
- Graduate students with a Summer 2027 graduation date
Registration is required in order to attend Chemistry Convocation and receive tickets for guests.
Registration is due Monday, April 12. Email chem-convocation@illinois.edu with questions or concerns.
All graduate program candidates participating in Chemistry Convocation must choose a hooder to hood them during the ceremony; this is typically your advisor but can also be an immediate family member who holds a PhD in any field. Graduate students, notify your advisor ASAP if you would like them to attend Chemistry Convocation as your hooder. All hooders are required to wear academic attire. The Department Head will be available to hood any student that does not have a hooder.
Ceremony Livestreaming and Recording
For individuals who are unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be livestreamed, recorded, and uploaded to Media Space following the ceremony.
Convocation List of Graduates
View the 2026 list of graduates
Caps and Gowns
Formal academic attire is required for participation in Illinois Commencement Weekend ceremonies.
The deadline to order academic attire and have it shipped at the early order discounted rate is Monday, April 12 at 10:59 pm. Regular pricing and two-day shipping fees will be effective from April 13 through April 27.
Hooders have the same academic attire early order deadline. Graduate students, contact your hooder early to ensure that they are able to order their academic attire by the April 12 deadline.
Announcements may be ordered through the Herff Jones website or a printer of your choice.
Tickets
Each guest who attends Chemistry Convocation is required to have a ticket. You will indicate on the registration form how many guest tickets you would like to request; there is an initial six-ticket limit for graduates.
Tickets will be available for pick up in 109 Noyes Lab from 9 am to 12 pm and 1 to 4 pm on the following dates:
- Monday, May 3
- Tuesday, May 4
- Wednesday, May 5
Additional tickets may be available for pickup in 109 Noyes Lab on Thursday, May 6 (Reading Day) on a first-come, first-serve basis.
If you will not be on campus to pick up your tickets, email chem-convocation@illinois.edu, and your tickets will be held to be picked up in the KCPA lobby on the day of the ceremony.
Please note that the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts (KCPA) prohibits the following items inside the theatre: food, drinks, tripods, monopods, balloons, confetti, noisemakers, signs, air horns, baby carriers, and strollers. If you bring any of these items, you will be required to check these items at the Patron Services counter in the lobby before entering the theater.
Photography
The Department of Chemistry does not provide a photographer for our ceremony. The ceremony is informal in nature and has ample time for family and friends to photograph their graduate.
Accessibility
The Department of Chemistry works with Krannert Center staff to ensure accessibility for students participating in the ceremony. Guests are responsible for arranging for their own accommodations. Visit the Krannert Center accessibility website for more information on accessibility options and contact them at least two weeks in advance if your guest(s) require accommodations to attend.
Parking
Limited parking is available in the Krannert Center garage and on the surrounding streets; allow ample time to locate parking. The lot north of Krannert Center is free for the public on weekends and evenings but may fill up quickly due to the influx of traffic for Illinois Commencement weekend. Additional university lots may be open and available; check signs for when permits are enforced. For more information, visit parking.illinois.edu.
Hotels
Most Champaign-Urbana area hotels begin taking reservations for Illinois Commencement weekend very early and may already be filled. For assistance with accommodations, see Explore Champaign County.
Universitywide and Graduate College Ceremonies
The Department of Chemistry participates in the universitywide Illinois Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 15, 2026 at 9:30 am at Memorial Stadium. For more information, visit the Illinois Commencement website.
The Graduate College invites all graduate students to participate in their Doctoral Hooding Celebration on Thursday, May 13, 2026 at 6 pm at the State Farm Center. Registration for the May Graduate College ceremony will open in February; for more information, visit the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony website.
Previous Convocation
May 18. 2025, Convocation program
May 18, 2025, Convocation video