GSEHD Commencement

GSEHD School Celebration, Saturday, May 16

• 7:30 am - Participating faculty will arrive at the Smith Center and meet in Tin Tabernacle Club. (Please use the side entrance of the Smith Center on G Street NW between 22nd and 23rd Streets). Wear your regalia. Faculty processional line-up will begin at 8:00 am.
   
• 7:45 am - Graduates and guests will arrive at the Smith Center (600 22nd St NW). Graduate check-in will be in Funger Hall (2201 G Street NW). Once graduates are checked in, they will be directed to line up for procession. Wear your regalia.
   
• 8:10 am - Graduates will begin to process to the Smith Center.
   
• 8:30 am - GSEHD School Celebration begins. The ceremony is expected to end at approximately 10:30 am.

GW Commencement on the National Mall: Sunday, May 17

Stage Location: The stage will be located at the base of the Washington Monument on the northeast corner at the intersection of 15th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. (1401 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC)

View map of National Mall, stage and entrances >

• 8:30 am - Entrances open.
  • Graduates and guests should report to the gate assigned in their StagePass or ticket and be prepared to present it for entry, either as a printout or on their mobile device.
• 8:30-9:30 am - Participating faculty should report to the backstage check-in tent.
• 10:15 am - All graduates and guests must be seated.
• 10:30 am - Ceremony begins.

View Additional GW Commencement on the Mall Details >

Additional Info to Note: Graduates & Guests

StagePass
Students: Be prepared to show the QR code from your StagePass, either on your mobile device or as a printout when you arrive at any commencement event. We recommend that you download or take a screenshot of the StagePass for each event. Be sure to include all of the QR code in your screenshot.

To access your StagePass:

• Log in to the registration system and click “Print Your StagePass.”
  • -or- Click on the link in the email titled, “Your StagePass for [EVENT NAME] is Here” to access the StagePass.
• Please note: Each event has a unique StagePass that may only be used at the event listed above the QR code.

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Know What to Expect in Regard to Weather or Case of Emergency >

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Review Prohibited Items >

• New Bag Policy in effect for this year’s Commencement and school celebrations. Bags larger than 5” x 7” are prohibited at all school celebrations and Commencement on the National Mall. Diaper bags and ADA or medical bags up to 16” x 16” x 8” are permitted. All bags are subject to search. Expect longer wait times if bringing a permitted bag.
• In the event of inclement weather, umbrellas are allowed only outside of the guest seating area. We suggest that guests in the seating area bring ponchos or other wearable rain gear instead.
• There is no shade available in the graduate seating area, including no shade in the graduate ADA seating section. Graduates may not use umbrellas as they block the view of other graduates and guests.
• Graduates and guests should bring a reusable water bottle to the ceremony. There are several water stations available at the National Mall Commencement site.

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Guest Tickets & Things to Note

• All guests (older than 2 years) must have a ticket for admission.
• Guests should report to the gate assigned on their ticket and be prepared to present it for entry, either as a printout or on their mobile device. If you did not receive a ticket, please contact your graduate. The ticket must be for Commencement on the National Mall only.
  • Anyone without a ticket will be directed to an overflow viewing area outside the event perimeter to watch the ceremony.
  • Guest seating is available on a general admission basis.
  • Guests who 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. Visit the Commencement Accessibility webpage for details on ADA Seating and Drop-Off on the National Mall.
• Please expect longer-than-anticipated lines at the entrance gates.
• There is no shade available in any guest seating area, including no shade in the ADA seating section. Guests may not use umbrellas as they block the view of other guests; umbrellas are allowed in the overflow viewing area.
• Please note: The plastic flooring used in all guest seating areas, which is required by the National Park Service, has a reflective surface that makes the seating area very bright and can increase the air temperature by 3 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. The same flooring can become slippery to walk on if there is rain or condensation remaining from the morning dew. Use caution when walking on the flooring as it may be uneven in areas.

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For more information, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions on the Commencement website.
 

Read the full "Know Before You Go" Guide  

Read More About Dr. Samuel Kambar Khoshaba II

Dr. Samuel Kambar Khoshaba II is the principal of South County High School in Fairfax County Public Schools, where he is known for championing student voice, strengthening school culture, and driving academic excellence. Under his leadership, the school has earned numerous distinctions, including a Distinguished accreditation rating from the Virginia Department of Education and recognition as a Top 25 high school in Northern Virginia.

With nearly three decades in public education, Dr. Khoshaba has served as a principal, assistant principal, school psychologist, and special education teacher. Prior to his current role, he led Western Branch Middle School in Chesapeake, Virginia, where he transformed student achievement and expanded access to advanced coursework, resulting in more equitable opportunities for students of color.

A nationally recognized voice in school leadership, Dr. Khoshaba serves on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and contributes regularly to Education Week and Principal Leadership. He is also the author of Pulling Back the Curtain on School Leadership, a book focused on making learning more personal and meaningful for students.
Dr. Khoshaba maintains a strong connection to The George Washington University, where he has taught graduate-level courses and served on the university’s advisory board, helping to shape and support the next generation of educational leaders.

His work has earned him multiple honors, including the 2025 Virginia Principal of Distinction and the 2021 Virginia Outstanding Middle School Principal of the Year. A proud graduate of the George Washington University, he remains deeply committed to developing schools where every student feels seen, heard, and inspired to thrive.

Read More About Nanako Tojo

Nanako is a proud graduate of the Higher Education Administration Program, where she focuses on international higher education through a socially just lens. As an international student, she brought unique perspectives to the classes and her extracurricular commitments. She presented her research on the challenges faced by international female students in U.S. higher education institutions at the National Association of Student Personnel and Administrators (NASPA) Region II Conference, where she was awarded the Conference Scholarship. She was also selected as a NASPA Graduate Associate Program (GAP) cohort member. She is a passionate storyteller and advocates for international students in the US by sharing her lived experiences at the GWOne Summit, GAP, and the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Annual Convention. She also worked for a nonprofit organization as Project Manager and led a global leadership program for college students, creating inclusive and transformative leadership and career development experiences.