Bluffton University will celebrate its annual May Day weekend of festivities this weekend.

May Day weather plan!
Due to the forecast of flooding rains through Saturday, the May Day ceremony will be held inside Founders Hall on Saturday, May 6. The ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m.

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The traditional end-of-the-academic-year celebration intertwines the past by hosting alumni reunions, the present by honoring this year's graduates and the future with first-year students performing the traditional Maypole dance.

Classes ending in a 7 or 2, and the class of 2016, will celebrate reunions.
 
Friday's events
The events begin on Friday, May 5, with the Juried Student Art Exhibition in Sauder Visual Arts Center. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

At 4:30 p.m., members of the class of ’67 and ’77 can attend a reception and dinner. Marbeck Center will host the class of ’67 while Sommer Center will be open for the class of ’77.

The first performance of the May Day Musical, “Sondheim on Sondheim” will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Yoder Recital Hall. A performance will also take place on Saturday, May 7, at the same time and place.

Saturday's events
Saturday features a full slate of events. Bluffton University’s annual May Day Run/Walk will start the day. The four-mile race is sponsored by the Bluffton University Alumni Association with support from Bluffton Hospital. Medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in each age/gender bracket.

Trophies will be awarded to fastest male and fastest female. Check-in starts at 7 a.m. in the Sommer Center with the race beginning at 8 a.m.

At 9:30 a.m., alumni are invited to Yoder Recital Hall to revive their musical energies and share their talent with current students during the Alumni Choir sing, which is followed by a reception. The Alumni Choir will also gather to sing “The Lord Bless You and Keep You” to close the May Day ceremony.

The end of the academic year, the beginning of a new chapter for graduates and the remembrance of times past will be celebrated during the 2017 May Day Ceremony at 1:30 p.m.

The event includes the Maypole dance performed by first-year students, crowning of the queen and king and recognition of graduating seniors.

Sunday's events
Graduation day, Sunday, May 7, will feature a 10:30 a.m. Baccalaureate in Founders Hall. The religious service will include presentations from graduates, Britnie Loch and Daniel Piero, who were selected by faculty recommendation. :Gary Schiefer, associate professor of business and business department chair, will provide the address titled “Just that simple” during baccalaureate.

Bluffton’s 117th Commencement will take place at 2 p.m. in Sommer Center with Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman, president of Eastern Mennonite University providing the commencement address, "What's in your wallet?"

Friday, May 5
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Sauder Visual Arts Center
4:30 p.m.Class of '67 reception and dinner, Marbeck Center
4:30 p.m.Class of '77 reception and dinner, Sommer Center
7:30 p.m.May Day Musical, Sondheim on Sondheim, Yoder Recital Hall

Saturday, May 6
7 a.m.Check-in and registration for May Day Run/Walk, Sommer Center
8 a.m. - 9 a.m.May Day Run/Walk, Sommer Center (start and finish)
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Sauder Visual Arts Center
9:30 a.m.Alumni Choir Sing, Yoder Hall
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.Guided campus tours leave every 30 minutes from Marbeck Center's Kiva and Lincoln Hall mementos can be purchased in the Kiva
10:45 - 11:15 a.m.Student Honors Recital, Yoder Recital Hall
11:00-11:30 a.m.Class of 1987 reception in Marbeck Center's Gallery Lounge
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Class of `71,`72, `73 brunch, Houshower House11:30 a.m - 1 p.m. Lunch for graduates and alumni class years 2000-2016, Burcky Gym
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.Lunch for alumni class years 1940-99, Marbeck Center
1:30 p.m.May Day Ceremony, Founders Hall
2:30 p.m.Class of 2017 reception in Bob's Place. Introduce your family to faculty and enjoy May Day cupcakes.
2:30 - 4 p.m.Farewell reception/open house for retiring Sally Weaver Sommer, vice president and dean of academic affairs, Musselman Library
2:30 - 4:30 p.m.Guided campus tours leave every 30 minutes from Marbeck Center's Kiva and Lincoln Hall mementos can be purchased in the Kiva
3 - 6 p.m.Ultimate Frisbee, library green
5:30 p.m.Pi Delta Society Banquet, The Commons
7:30 p.m.May Day Musical, Sondheim on Sondheim, Yoder Recital Hall

Sunday, May 7
10:30 a.m.Baccalaureate, Founders Hall
1 - 5 p.m.Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Sauder Visual Arts Center
2 p.m.Commencement, Sommer Center