The George Washington University will celebrate its 2025 graduating class on Sunday, May 18, at Commencement on the National Mall, while graduates and their guests will also be recognized throughout the week at individual school celebrations before being honored at the base of the Washington Monument on Sunday.
GW Today has compiled a guide to make the visit to D.C. and the capital region easier for friends and family coming to celebrate.
Planning your visit
GW is located in the heart of Washington, D.C., and within walking distance to some of the nation’s most iconic sights—including the White House and Lincoln Memorial. The university is close to three major airports, including Ronald Reagan Washington National, Dulles International and Baltimore Washington International, as well as Union Station.
Metro, taxi, rideshare and Capital Bikeshare are available to help you navigate Foggy Bottom and the National Mall.
For those who have not yet booked a place to stay, there are many options for lodging across the D.C. area, including some options that are close to Foggy Bottom and the National Mall. Be sure to ask any hotel if they offer a discount for the weekend of GW’s Commencement.
Check out GW Today’s Foggy Bottom guide for the best places to eat, relax or explore.
Individual school celebrations
All schools and colleges will host a celebratory experience for their graduating students. Graduating students will receive individual recognition, including having their names announced, walking across the stage and having an individual photo taken. During these celebrations, they will hear from school leaders and other prestigious speakers.
These ceremonies run from Thursday, May 15, through Sunday, May 18. Please visit the Commencement Week schedule for dates, times and locations of school and college celebrations.
StagePass
StagePasses are electronic passes that contain unique QR codes for graduates to use at their school celebrations and Commencement on the National Mall. You will scan the QR code in your StagePass to activate the voice recording of your name that will play as you cross in front of the stage. The QR code also activates the digital display of your name on the in-room screen (if one is available) and the livestream of the ceremony. (No students’ names are called or displayed at Commencement on the National Mall.)
StagePasses were emailed to registered students, at their GW email address, on May 9.
COMMENCEMENT SUNDAY
Time
The Commencement on the National Mall ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. Graduates and guests must be seated by 10:15 a.m.
Staging area
The staging area will be at the base of the Washington Monument, located at 1401 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. (for guests who do not need access to the ADA drop-off area); ADA seating guests should use 1600 Constitution Ave., NW. The Commencement site will be secured by fencing with entrance gates as indicated on the site map. The U.S. Park Police and other security personnel will be on site.
Graduate seating opens at 9 a.m. Graduates must be seated by 10:15 a.m. Graduates should use Gate 3 for the most direct access to the graduate seating area.
Guests should use the gate assigned to them on their ticket. Guests that need access to the ADA seating area should use Gate 6 regardless of the gate assigned on their ticket. ADA seating guests may have one companion join them.
Speakers
Jonquel Jones, B.A. ’19, the 2021 WNBA most valuable player and reigning MVP of the WNBA Finals for the champion New York Liberty, will deliver the Commencement address. While her prowess on the court speaks for itself, she has also done much off it. Jones has used her platform and her own story as a member of the LGBTIA+ community to advocate for equality and inclusion in sports, encouraging the empowerment of women and promoting diversity in athletics. Recently, she was named one of USA Today’s Women of the Year, a recognition of women who have made significant impact in their communities and across the country.
The student speaker is occupational therapy doctoral student Natalia Anzaldúa.
Getting there
- Metro
- Those taking the orange, blue or silver line from Foggy Bottom to Commencement on the National Mall should exit at the Smithsonian station. Riders taking the red line can transfer to the orange, silver or blue line at Metro Center to the Smithsonian stop, while those taking the green or yellow line can do so at the L’Enfant Plaza station.
- Alternative transportation
- There are also various Capital Bikeshare stations around the city, including near our campus and the Mall.
- Parking
- Guests are urged to take the Metro, walk or take taxis during Commencement Week. Note that parking is not guaranteed for those who do drive. For school celebrations or other events on campus, GW parking garages are available. All GW parking garages are wheelchair accessible.
- There is no reservable, dedicated ADA parking on the National Mall. Limited publicly accessible parking spaces are available. Privately-owned parking garages are located within about half a mile of the Commencement site. Parking fees vary by location.
- There will be an ADA drop-off area. To gain access to the drop-off area, students and guests may download a placard for their vehicle from the Commencement website. The placard is for drop-off only, it is not a parking pass.
Food and beverages
Food and beverages are allowed at Commencement on the National Mall as it is a public park. Please dispose of all waste in the proper trash or recycling containers available at the event site or take it with you when you leave.
Water stations
Graduates and guests should bring a reusable water bottle to the ceremony. There are several water stations available at the National Mall Commencement site.
Photos and video
No individual graduate names are called at Commencement on the National Mall, and graduates do not walk across the stage. University-designated photographers and videographers will be onsite to capture the event.
Commencement on the National Mall will be livestreamed on the Commencement homepage. The video and photos from the event will be available on the website after Commencement Week.
Graduates and guests are welcome, and encouraged, to take photos and video in all other locations on the National Mall. Please tag the university’s social media accounts (Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn) and use the hashtag #GWCommencement if you post them online.
Photo and video consent
Photos and/or videos of attendees will be taken and may be shared on university social media accounts, websites, and marketing materials. Review GW's Statement of Privacy Practices for more information.
If you have concerns, please contact Events and Venues at uevents
gwu [dot] edu (uevents[at]gwu[dot]edu) or 202-994-7470.
Celebrating online
Commencement on the National Mall will be livestreamed on the web and social media on the day of the event. Viewing options will be posted on the Commencement homepage on the day of the event.
School and college celebrations will be livestreamed on the web and available on their Commencement pages on the day of the event.
In case of emergency
University Commencement is held rain or shine on the National Mall, unless we are directed to move by the National Park Service or if conditions do not allow us to safely conduct the ceremony as planned. If an emergency should develop during the ceremony, the U.S. Park Police will declare an emergency. Follow the directions of U.S. Park Police and site staff and proceed to the nearest public building. If you need assistance, site staff will help you.
If the ceremony moves to an alternate site, all graduates and members of the platform party should report to the Charles E. Smith Center. For alternate site plan information, please visit commencement.gwu.edu.
Families and guests would watch the full ceremony online at commencement.gwu.edu.
In the event of a change to Commencement on the National Mall, information will be posted to CampusAdvisories.gwu.edu. Updates and changes will also be communicated via GW Alert (text and email), the GW homepage, GW Information Line at 202-994-5050, and on social media (Twitter and Facebook).
