Two commencement ceremonies will be held at Millersville University this spring. The undergraduate commencement ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 12, at 10 a.m., at Biemesderfer Stadium for students receiving a baccalaureate degree. Graduates should wear flat-soled shoes to Commencement for their safety and the integrity of the field.

As students receive their diplomas, they will also have the distinction of participating in Millersville University’s inaugural “zero waste” commencement ceremony. Planning for this project, which is being implemented by the University’s commencement and sustainability committees, began in March.

The goal for this project is to eliminate waste produced by commencement-related activities. “There are three types of waste: Recyclables, trash and organics. We will recycle what we can, compost the organics and reduce or eliminate the trash that would normally go to a landfill,” said Elizabeth Karevicius, assistant to the vice president for finance and administration and member of the University’s sustainability committee.

Karevicius will aid the sustainability committee by coordinating personnel from Waste Management, Inc., with commencement committee members to ensure quality communication with those involved in the project. Millersville University is the only University partnering with Waste Management, Inc.; however, Boston University and Emory University held similar events last year.

On graduation day, there will be receptacles for recyclables, trash and organics strategically and inconspicuously placed near the concessions and stadium entrances. There will also be a few students serving as “green guides” to answer questions guests may have, and to help point them in the right direction, such as suggesting they reuse cups instead of taking another.

“It will be a very low-key event happening in the background. Nothing we are doing here is meant to overshadow the graduates. Commencement is a day to celebrate the accomplishments of our students, but with the increased volume of visitors on campus, it’s a good opportunity for the University to execute such an environmentally friendly initiative,” explained Karevicius.

For more information on commencement, visit the commencement website.