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May 2025 Chemistry Convocation Ceremony
Sunday, May 18, 2025
2:00 pm (doors open at 1:00 pm)
Tryon Festival Theatre (map)
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
Reception to follow in Illini Union Room 314
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 alumna Hye Kyung Timken (PhD, '87, Oldfield) as our speaker this year.
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 departmental awards are announced during the ceremony.
Ceremony Livestreaming and Recording
For individuals who are unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be livestreamed, recorded and uploaded to the Department of Chemistry media space following the ceremony.
Click here to join the livestream
Convocation Program and List of Graduates
Click here to view the program
Speaker
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Hye Kyung Timken
Dr. Hye Kyung Timken is a Principal Scientist and Chevron Fellow. During her 38-year industrial career she has worked on research and development for next-generation petroleum refining and petrochemical processes and catalysts. Dr. Timken holds 148 US patents and has published 19 scientific journal articles. She holds a Ph.D. degree in Physical Chemistry from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign under Professor Eric Oldfield, a MS and a BS degree in Chemistry from Yonsei University, in Seoul, Korea. Throughout her career, she has pursued learning of fundamentals of catalytic materials, then applied the knowledge to industrial catalytic processes to create higher value products (cleaner fuels and base oils, high performing lubricant additives, petrochemical intermediates) and improved manufacturing processes.
Registration
Students eligible to participate in the May 2025 Department of Chemistry Convocation Ceremony include:
- Students graduating in Summer 2024, Fall 2024, or Spring 2025
- Bachelor’s degree candidates with 13 or fewer hours remaining who expect to complete their degree requirements by August 2025
- Graduate students with a Summer 2025 graduation date
Registration is required in order to attend Chemistry Convocation and receive tickets for guests.
Registration is due Monday, April 14. 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.
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 14 at 10:59 pm. Regular pricing and two-day shipping fees will be effective from April 15 through April 29.
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 14 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 5
- Tuesday, May 6
- Wednesday, May 7
Additional tickets may be available for pickup in 109 Noyes Lab on Thursday, May 8 (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 at KCPA 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 17, 2025 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 15, 2025 at 7:00 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