Veterans Honor Stole Ceremony
Spring 2024 graduation

Veterans Honor Stole Ceremony

The Veterans Honor Stole Ceremony celebrating graduating student veterans will be held May 4 at 2 p.m. at Gammage Auditorium.

Once you have applied for graduation, you can register for the Veterans Honor Stole Ceremony (and all other graduation ceremonies) by going to My ASU and selecting the Graduation tab in the My Programs section. Once there, click on the maroon button “Register for your Ceremonies.”

Please note, the deadline to apply is Feb. 15. If you apply after the deadline date, expect a late fee. So if you still need to complete this step before registering for this event, go to https://registrar.asu.edu/graduation-apply and expect a small late fee.

veteran graduates

Stole Ceremony Frequently Asked Questions

Registration opens February 26. Registration for all ceremonies will close April 15

May 4, 2024 from 2-4pm in Gammage Auditorium.

Like other graduation ceremonies, you will go to the RSVP Ceremonies link on My ASU. The link will be accessible once registration is open. For step-by-step instructions, click here

No, but you will be required to register and indicate your guest count. You are welcome to bring as many guests as you like.

Business casual. Do not bring your cap and gown to this ceremony. There will be a group photo taken shortly after the ceremony.

For additional details about the commencement week schedule, click here.

Students are granted only one veteran stole, regardless of how many ASU degrees they receive. You may walk in the Veterans Honor Stole Ceremony once.

No. At this time, we are not providing veteran stoles prior to the event. We ask that you complete the registration through My ASU and indicate which graduation ceremonies you plan to attend or if you cannot attend any ceremonies during commencement week.

Those who will not be at any graduation ceremonies will be notified when veteran stoles will be available for pickup or mailing. Please note, mailings will occur 4–6 weeks after graduation week (for requested mailings only), and pickups will occur after December 18, 2023. Thank you for your understanding.

Be sure to review ASU’s Bag Policy for what is and isn’t allowed. 

ASU Bag Policy | ASU 365 Community Union

 

Graduation celebrations

ASU will celebrate graduating students with in-person events this May. Visit the Commencement and Convocation site for a full listing of college convocation and special interest ceremonies.

Commencement and Convocation

 

The Veterans Honor Stole Ceremony celebrating graduating student veterans will be held on May 4 at 2 p.m. at Gammage on ASU’s Tempe campus. An RSVP link will be shared when it comes available.

Keynote Speaker

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Vern “Rusty” Findley

Lieutenant General, U.S. Air Force, Retired

Lieutenant General Vern “Rusty” Findley, USAF (Retired), brings over 35 years of active military service, culminating in roles such as Vice Commander of Air Mobility Command, Director of Strategy, Plans, and Policy for Headquarters, U.S. Central Command, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Plans, and Assessment for Multi-National Force-Iraq. Following his retirement, General Findley established VMFindley Consulting LLC, where he specializes in defense industry consultation. He holds degrees from Arizona State University, the University of North Dakota, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, with additional training from Johns Hopkins University and Syracuse University. Beyond his consultancy, General Findley is dedicated to veteran employment and education as Vice Chairman of the Board for an Arizona non-profit and serves as Chairman of the Board for WG Henschen, a Scottsdale-based aerospace distributor.

 

 Featured student speaker

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Jonathan Lu

2020 Tillman Scholar

Jonathan, a first-generation immigrant, joined the U.S. Army as a combat medic driven by the American dream. His experiences during deployments in Iraq highlighted the need for better behavioral healthcare for soldiers. Inspired to effect change, he became a Special Forces medical sergeant, identifying factors affecting soldiers' health outcomes. Now a Special Forces team sergeant, Jonathan remains dedicated to advancing behavioral health advocacy for service members. Pursuing a doctorate in behavioral health, he strives to improve health integration in the military and support healthcare initiatives within his community, including for nurses and firefighters.

Honoring student veterans at ASU

At the end of each semester, the Pat Tillman Veterans Center and the ASU Alumni Association recognize student veteran graduates with the Veterans Honor Stole Ceremony. Every year the ceremony grows larger, with more than 150 graduates and 700+ guests in attendance this year. It is a point of pride for our student veterans and their families.