Making Waves: Asian & Pacific Islander Commencement Celebration
Making Waves: Asian & Pacific Islander (API) Commencement Celebration is a cultural ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of SJSU students who have graduated Fall 2025 and students expected to graduate Spring, Summer and Fall 2026. This celebration is a great opportunity to acknowledge your academic achievements, honor your families, communities, and other significant people in your lives, and to celebrate the Asian and Pacific Islander cultural influences that have contributed to your academic success.
Participation in this event is voluntary and is open to all graduating students who would like to participate, regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.
Degrees are not conferred during our cultural celebration nor are graduate students hooded. Degrees and hooding will only take place at your official college commencement. We encourage you to attend both the cultural celebration and your official college commencement. For information regarding the official university commencement schedule, please visit: https://www.sjsu.edu/commencement/
Please note that this celebration could conflict with an individual students’ final exam schedule. We strongly advise that students prioritize their academic obligations.
Date: Saturday, May 16th, 2026
Location: Provident Credit Union Event Center
Time: TBD at this time.
(See parking information below.)
Who is eligible to participate?
SJSU students who have graduated in Fall 2025 and SJSU students who will be graduating
in Spring 2026, Summer 2026, and Fall 2026 can participate in Spring 2026's Making
Waves: API Commencement Celebration.
If you participated in our Spring 2025 Making Waves: API Commencement Celebration,
we ask that you refrain from registering.
How can I register to participate?
Registration for 2026 Making Waves: API Commencement Celebration is not available yet.
When is the deadline to register to participate?
The priority deadline for participation in 2026 Making Waves: API Commencement Celebration is currently unavailable because the registration is not available yet.
What do I receive as a graduate if I register and participate?
Graduating SJSU students who register for and attend Making Waves: API Commencement Celebration will receive a celebration where they will be recognized on stage and an API Commencement Graduation stole to recognize their accomplishments. Graduates must attend in-person to receive a stole.
How many guests can I bring?
There is no strict guest limit for Spring 2026's Making Waves: API Commencement Celebration. HOWEVER, we do ask graduates to be considerate and not invite more than 25 guests to attend per 1 graduating student.
Graduates will receive more detailed information about guests and if tickets will be needed after registration closes.
What do my guests need for parking?
We do not have the 2026 information at this time. Below is the information we provided for 2025.
What is the attire/dress code for graduating students?
There is no dress code for the event, but as it is a Commencement Celebration, we
encourage you to enjoy and celebrate in the ways you would like.
You are not required you to wear your cap and gown for this event. We strongly encouage
you to wear cultural clothing if that feels celebratory for you.
I am graduating in the Fall. How can I participate or receive a stole?
Unfortunately, we do not host Making Waves: API Commencement Celebration during the Fall or provide stoles to graduates outside of the event at this time. Fall graduates are encouraged to participate in the spring when we host the event if they would like to receive a stole.
Want to get an idea of what the event is like? See our archived livestream of 2025 Making Waves: Asian & Pacific Islander Commencement Celebration!
