Join us onsite in Kansas City, Missouri!
Acellus Academy Commencement Ceremony
IST Campus - Kansas City, MO
Celebrate With Your Peers
How to Participate in Commencement:
Reserve Your Seat
To reserve a seat, please purchase a ticket to participate in a commencement ceremony as an Acellus Academy graduate. Guest tickets are available for family and friends to attend the ceremony. To ensure adequate seating, all attendees will need a ticket to attend the ceremony. Registration will remain open while space is available.
(Please note this event is optional, and not a requirement for graduation.)
Complete the Graduation Requirements
To allow sufficient time for processing your diploma, we recommend submitting your graduation application 15 days prior to the ceremony (or earlier). If your graduation application is received less than one week prior to the date of the ceremony, you may need to re-register for a later date. Please contact Acellus Academy’s staff if you need assistance with applying for graduation.
Event Schedule
Sunday — IST Campus
- 8:00 am — Student Breakfast & Orientation
- Note: We recommend that all graduates attend the breakfast to be introduced to their peers.
- 9:00 am — Graduation Activities (open to all guests)
- 10:00 am — Group Photos
- 10:30 am — Commencement Ceremony
- 12:00 pm — Guest Luncheon (open to all guests)
Cap & Gown
Cap and gown rental is included in the purchase of your ticket ($50). Your cap and gown will be available for pick up at the event.
We recommend dressing in colors that complement the graduation regalia. The cap and gown for Acellus Academy is blue and features a gold tassel. Place the cap level with the point in front. The bottom of the cap should rest about an inch from your eyebrows. Hang your tassel on the right side. After receiving your diploma, you will move your tassel to the left.
Display Honors
A white stole may be worn by students graduating through the honors pathway. Students with an outstanding GPA may also wear honor cords as indicated below. Honors regalia will be available for purchase on-site.
- Cum Laude (3.5 GPA or higher) — 1 cord (gold & blue)
- Magna Cum Laude (3.7 GPA or higher) — 2 cords (blue + gold & blue)
- Summa Cum Laude (3.9 GPA or higher) — 3 cords (gold + blue + gold & blue)
Commencement Ceremony
Walking the Stage
At the designated time, graduates will proceed to the foot of the stage and wait in line. Once it’s time, you’ll hear your name called, walk across the stage to shake the presenter’s hand and take the diploma.
- Walk across the stage once your name is called.
- Shake the presenter’s hand with your right hand.
- Take your diploma in your left hand.
- Pause for a picture while shaking the presenter’s hand and holding your diploma.
- Walk off stage.
- Return to your seat.
Event Highlights
MAKE YOUR GRADUATION AN UNFORGETTABLE EVENT
CONNECT WITH YOUR PEERS
Acellus Academy students from around the country come together, forging new friendships, celebrating academic success, and creating meaningful connections with their peers.
STUDENT BREAKFAST
Graduates are invited to start off the day with breakfast at IST Catalyst and Starbucks. This is a great opportunity to meet and socialize with fellow students.
COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS BY DR. ROGER BILLINGS
President of the International Academy of Science and founder of Acellus Academy, Dr. Roger Billings is widely recognized as the pioneering figure and visionary behind the concept of inventioneering.
ACELLUS STORE
Showcase your school spirit with merchandise from the Acellus Store! The store will be open onsite with a unique collection of gear specifically designed for Acellus Academy alumni.
GRADUATE MEMORY BOOKS
As part of the on-site Commencement Ceremony activities, students will have the opportunity to fill out these books and collect graduation messages from their fellow graduates. To participate, students should bring printed senior photos to exchange with their classmates.
CELEBRATE WITH FAMILY
Commencement is a time for celebrating academic achievements, surrounded by the friends and family. Together, graduates and their loved ones mark the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next.
CAP DECORATING
Graduates can express their creativity at our cap decorating station! Personalize your cap for a memorable touch on graduation day. (Parents are welcome to donate additional supplies for cap decorating!)
IST CAMPUS TOURS
Acellus Academy students and their families have the exciting opportunity to tour the Institute of Science & Technology (IST) campus.
GUEST LUNCH AT IST CATALYST
Join us in celebrating our graduates at the luncheon following the ceremony! It’s the perfect opportunity for graduates to gather with their guests and peers to commemorate this milestone together.
Venue
event location & details
INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
11025 N Ambassador Dr
Kansas City, MO 64153
United States
Nearby Hotels
Plan your stay
Tru by Hilton - Kansas City Airport
10900 N Ambassador Drive,
Kansas City, MO 64153
Special Rate, Corporate Account: 1361163
Hilton Kansas City Airport
8801 NW 112th Street,
Kansas City, MO 64153
Code for Discount: 3401970
Hilton Garden Inn
10920 N Ambassador Dr,
Kansas City, MO 64153
Special Rate, Corporate Account: 1361163
Celebrate Graduation from Home
Graduate Spotlight
We understand that not all students are able to travel for a commencement ceremony. For those unable to attend, you can host your own graduation celebration from the comfort of your home.
The official Acellus Academy cap and gown, as well as honors regalia, are available for purchase from the Acellus Store. Students can take pictures and submit their information to be featured on the Acellus Academy website. To submit a request to be featured, please visit the following link: Submit a Graduate Spotlight
2023 Commencement Highlights
Thank you to everyone who joined us in making our 2023 Commencement Ceremony truly unforgettable! We couldn’t have done it without the help and support of our amazing Acellus Academy families.
Questions? Send us a message!
Please limit this form to questions regarding the event.
Commencement Inquiry
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I order a cap and gown for my student that is graduating from home?
Of course! You are able to purchase the Acellus Academy cap and gown from the Acellus Store and have it shipped to your home: https://www.acellus.com/store/?product=acellusacademy-graduate-gown
Can I pre-order the honors regalia for my student?
Yes! Honors regalia can be purchased from the online Acellus Store: www.acellus.com/store/?product=honors
Is it possible to purchase the cap, gown, and honors regalia on-site?
Yes, all of the graduation regalia will be available for purchase at the on-site event.
Where will the event be held?
The 2024 Commencement Ceremony will be held in Kansas City, MO at the campus of the Institute of Science and Technology.
On the day of the event, what time does registration open?
Registration opens at 7:30 AM on the day of the event.
How long will the ceremony take?
We anticipate the ceremony will take no more than an hour and a half to complete.
What size of cap and gown should I order?
Please view the Sizing Chart for the Acellus Academy cap and gown.
Do we need to bring the diploma with us from home?
No, there is no need to worry about bringing the diploma that was mailed to you. A diploma will be presented to the graduate on-stage at the event.
Will the ceremony be live streamed?
Yes, at the time of the event the Commencement Ceremony will be streamed live for any friends and family that are unable to join us on-site.
Live Broadcast: https://www.acellusacademy.com/live/
After the ceremony, where can we find the graduate photos from the event?
The photos taken at the ceremony will be available online and also accessible on the Acellus Academy Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AcellusAcademy/
What is a Graduation Memory Book?
As part of the on-site ceremony activities, students will have the opportunity to fill out these Memory Books and collect graduation messages from their fellow graduates.
To participate, students should bring a stack of printed senior photos, approximately 4″ x 5.3″ to exchange with their classmates. (Similar to a high school yearbook.)
Looking to purchase prints? You can find options online or locally: