What would work best:
1)Program committee needs to have the complete list of graduates with addresses and email addresses and parents’ names as soon as it is available.
2) Send email to all detailing exact directions for graduate’s name, parents’ names, school name, bio (75 words or less, 3rd person perspective, something that glorifies God and doesn’t disrespect anyone), and rose list (7 people or groups of people that have influenced you in your schooling experience), and photo (sending in smaller format works best). Also recommend that all information be sent in same email if possible with graduate’s name and what is included in the subject line of email.
3) Also give out exact directions at meeting in October.
4) Make a strict deadline for submission at January meeting, with a formatted copy done by March meeting that can be checked by each graduate or their parent. Ok to make some changes at that time.
5) Someone needs to have Microsoft Publisher and know how to use it to format the program. Also, it is helpful to have a high quality scanner to scan in photographs.
6)Would be helpful to have 3 people to take gathered items and put it together and another person to format it in Publisher. Needs to be saved in a pdf file to a CD and turned into the MPE office after the conference in April.
7) The order of ceremony and class song, class motto, etc. need to be turned in to program team by March meeting.
Someone needs to pick up programs from the MPE office before the rehearsal on Thursday evening and bring copies for the graduates to take that evening.
9) The night of graduation, have the programs there by 5:30. Arrange for some younger siblings to place a program for each graduate under their chairs in front of the church, since they aren’t allowed to carry anything in with them during the processional.
10) There were 76 graduates, 1200 programs and 60 programs left over.
11) Mei and Katie in the MPE Office were VERY helpful,approachable, knowledgeable and kind in this whole process.

Collect information from each senior:  biography, senior picture, list of rose recipients, etc. Responsible for overseeing the proofing and printing of programs which will be printed by the MPE Office

Minimum needed:  4 people

1 person will format, 3 will collect the data

Order of Ceremony

Processional Bobby Allison-Gallimore ‘98 – Piano

“Pomp and Circumstance”

Welcome Todd Kangas, MPE President

Prayer of Invocation William High

Master of Ceremonies Bill Ward

Class Verses and Quote Karie Behm

Congregational Hymn Cedric Saunders – Music Leader

“In Christ Alone” Bobby Allison-Gallimore – Piano

Andrew Summers – Guitar

Senior Addresses Molly Allison-Gallimore

Mike Phillips

Presentation of Diplomas Parents of Graduates

Bryant Sarensen – Harp

Presentation of Roses Kathryn Gerringer – Introduction

“Remember Me” Audrey Waddell, Michael Miller ’07 – Duet Taylor Quinn – Piano

Aaron Dorsett – Guitar

April Cervinka – Violin

Parental Blessing Mike Summers

Senior Class Response Taylor Quinn, Director

“My Tribute” Karie Behm – Piano Aaron Dorsett, Andrew Summers – Guitar

April Cervinka, Rebecca McClurg – Violin

David McClurg – Cello

Leah Shoemaker – Flute

Presentation of Class Bill Ward

Recessional Bobby Allison-Gallimore – Piano

You are invited to attend the reception following the ceremony.

2008 MPE Graduation Program Committee Report

I strongly suggest that the January deadline be better enforced next year for the bios and pictures.  The rose list can be in by March 1st without a delay but the program committee needs a lot of time to get all of the information gathered before they can begin to actually put the program together.  This year was made more complicated because of the delay of the information coming to us and the conflicts that arise out of end of year events outside of the graduating class.  If it is an issue of getting people back on task after Christmas you may want to consider a deadline of December.

Other than that issue things went very well and the computer has definitely helped with this process.  Whoever  volunteers to gather the information will need to be fairly computer savvy as they can save the person actually putting the program together a lot of time.

Thank you for all of your hard work this year and we really enjoyed the ceremony.

Additional Notes:
At the beginning of the year, let each family know that the program committee will need graduate biographies (~ 75 words) and senior photos by the January meeting.
Each graduate also needs to submit a list of seven rose recipients.  (Rose recipients may include “groups” of people, but each graduate will receive only seven roses for distribution.  Some graduates purchase additional roses on their own and distribute them after the ceremony.)
Check with the MPE office for the printing deadline, and STICK TO IT!  In 2008, the deadline was April 29th.
At least a month before the MPE printing deadline, print or e-mail initial copies of the program so families can proofread their own bios and rose lists.  Enlist some help to look over the entire program.  (In 2008, Damon Taylor sent the program out to the class via e-mail, and families e-mailed him with necessary changes.)
DO give early deadlines for bios, photos, and rose lists and ENFORCE THEM.  The program committee is often waiting on families who decide to turn these items in at the very last minute.
Other information that needs to be collected by the Program Committee includes: Order of Ceremony (including names of speakers, musicians, and song titles) and lyrics for songs (get copyright permission).
In 2008, 1000 copies of the program were printed, and all were distributed.
Arrange for a committee member to pick the programs up from the MPE office and bring them to College Church on rehearsal night.
We gave each senior a program at the rehearsal so graduates and their parents would know the order of the ceremony, and each graduate could take his/her program home as a memento.

Suggested Deadlines:

January meeting – Senior bios and photos turned in
February meeting – Rose lists turned in
March – Initial copy of program e-mailed or printed for proofing; Order of
Ceremony and song lyrics turned in to committee
April – Take or e-mail program files to MPE office for printing.
May – Pick programs up at MPE office.  Take programs to rehearsal.