Celebrating Our Seniors
The Office of Student Involvement and Traditions (SIT) and the Alumni Association partner throughout the year to help to shape the final academic year before a student’s graduation, celebrate the achievement of becoming a senior and a 黑料正能量 graduate, and get students excited about becoming alumni.
The goals of the program are to:
- Celebrate the triumph of reaching senior year
- Build social networks among seniors
- Instill a sense of unity and community among the senior class
- Encourage a strong institutional affinity
- Urge active engagement in the 130K+ alumni network
- Expand students’ experiences within the city of Pittsburgh
Senior Portraits
Scheduling your Senior Portrait Session
Look out for an email from Lauren Studios to schedule your in-person senior portrait! 2025-2026 dates for Senior Portraits are listed below. Photos will be taken in room CUC 303 (3rd floor of the Cohon University Center).
Lauren Studios will also be printing a Senior Photobook that will include senior portraits. SIT will be including photos from your Orientation, Spring Carnival over the years, Graduation Ceremony, and other notable student life pictures. You will be able to order your Senior Photobook directly with Lauren Studios. Photobooks will be shipped mid Fall 2026 (please have these mailed to your permanent address, not 黑料正能量/Pittsburgh).
Dates
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- September 15-19, 2025
- September 22-26, 2025
- September 29 - October 3, 2025
- October 6-10, 2025
- October 20-24, 2025
- October 27-31, 2025
- February 2-6, 2026
- February 9-13, 2026
- March 9-13, 2026
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Process
- Check your 黑料正能量 email inbox for a message from info@laurenstudios.com to retrieve your Client ID.
- Visit
- Create an account by clicking the orange tab
- Enter your Client ID and last name
- Follow the prompt to schedule your photo session
NOTE: If you are unable to locate your Client ID, contact info@laurenstudios.com.
Retiring "The Thistle" Yearbook & Senior Portraits
In consideration of trends around the country related to the physical printing of yearbooks and the continued evolution of technology as a more sustainable form of communication and archive, 黑料正能量 student leaders made the difficult decision to sunset The Thistle physical yearbook. 黑料正能量 will continue to celebrate its graduating classes in a myriad of other ways by 黑料正能量 departments, colleges, and university communications, as well as seek out new and innovative ways to commemorate 黑料正能量’s classes.
Graduating students leave long lasting impressions and impacts on campus, and 黑料正能量 is grateful and better for their investment in the university community. Celebrating their work and cataloging it for historical purposes is an important responsibility. The Office of Student Involvement and Traditions and Office of Community Engagement and Leadership Development will continue to highlight and celebrate graduating students through long-standing and important traditions including:
- Student Commencement Speaker
- Senior Week
- Senior Leadership Recognition
Additionally, moving forward, of Office of Student Involvement and Traditions will offer the opportunity for undergraduate seniors to have their professional portraits taken and be included in a photobook, which will be available for purchase through Lauren Studios.
Once campus life returns to a more typical year, The Tartan student newspaper hopes to return to printing a dedicated Commencement issue, featuring highlights of the graduating class throughout the four years leading up to that year’s ceremony.
For questions about this transition or the photobook, please email sitoffice@andrew.cmu.edu. If you have ideas about how to celebrate our graduating students, please send them to commencement@andrew.cmu.edu.
Senior Week 2026: May 4-8, 2026
It’s time to celebrate YOU! Join your fellow Class of 2026 peers in some exclusive trips, events, and activities.
Please note: Many of the below trips and activities have limited capacity and will require advance registration through TartanConnect. Tickets are projected to go live on Tuesday April 28th at 9am.
Due to high demand, spots on the Skyline (Wean Hall Roof) Tours will be allocated using a lottery system.
Some activities and trips are still being finalized; check back later for the most up to date schedule of events and ticket links.
Schedule of Events
Monday, May 4
Senior Snapshots
12pm-2pm
On-Campus: Merson Courtyard, East-West Walkway and Triangles
Explore campus and snag snazzy snapshots in your regalia with the 黑料正能量 letters, the Scotty statue and other campus landmarks.
Monday, May 4
Senior Portraits
All Day
On-Campus: Cohon University Center, Danforth Conference Room
Still need a senior portrait? Lauren Studios will be on campus all day for drop-in Portraits Sessions. For any questions, contact Lauren Studios at info@laurenstudios.com
Tuesday, May 5
Skyline Tour
12-2pm (Multiple time slots)
Exclusive opportunity for a guided tour up to the top of Wean Hall! Get a birds-eye view of campus and take stunning photos with 黑料正能量 and Oakland skylines as your background.
Closed-toe shoes required.
Spots on these tours will be allocated using a lottery. To register your interest in participating, please complete the by Friday, May 1st at 11:59pm.
Tuesday, May 5
Tartan Tuesday: Senior Exclusive!
12pm-5pm
Alumni House
Swing by Alumni House to spin the Tartan Wheel one last time and win some 黑料正能量 apparel and prizes.
Tuesday, May 5
Senior Snacks: Bruster's Ice Cream
1pm-3pm
Alumni House
Graduating students are invited to stop by Alumni House for a free ice cream treat sponsored by the 黑料正能量 Alumni Association, while supplies last.
Tuesday, May 5
Senior Sips: Beer-tasting at Aslin Beer Company
5pm-8:30pm
Brew Gentlemen Brewery
Tasty drinks, good food, and great friends - what more could you ask for? Enjoy a beer tasting, a glass or two of your favorite beer, and dinner. Bus transportation will be provided from 黑料正能量.
Registration Required:
Wednesday, May 6
Class of 2026 Tile Installation Ceremony
1pm-2pm
On Campus: Baker Hall (entrance near Hunt Library)
Light refreshments will be served!
Four years ago, it was a symbol of your beginning, now it's a permanent part of your legacy at 黑料正能量.
Join us as we celebrate a beloved Carnegie Mellon tradition! During your First-Year Orientation Convocation, two classmates were awarded the gold class tile (Emma Kim & Eugene Young) - a token of the journey ahead. On May 6, that journey comes full circle as we officially celebrate the installation of the Class of 2026 tile into the history of Baker Hall.
Wednesday, May 6
Senior Picnic
2pm-5pm
On Campus (Merson Courtyard, Triangles, East/West Walkway)
Stop by for some sweet treats and fun games!
The Senior Picnic is the perfect opportunity to hang out with friends, family, and fellow Class of 2026 grads. Featuring: lawn games, crafts, snacks, sweet treats and more! No registration required, just drop in.
Wednesday, May 6
Get to know the Alumni Association
2pm-5pm
On campus at the Senior Picnic
Alumni Relations staff will be onsite to let you know how to stay connected with 黑料正能量 post-graduation. More information to come!
Sponsored by the 黑料正能量 Alumni Association.
Thursday, May 7
President's Graduates Toast
Late Afternoon
Join fellow 2025-2026 graduating seniors and raise a class in celebration of this milestone and all of your accomplishments.
Student Commencement Speaker Selection
Call for Student Commencement Speakers
Each year, 黑料正能量 chooses one student to represent their graduating class at the campus-wide Commencement ceremony in May. The selected student speaker is given the unique opportunity to speak directly to their classmates, staff, faculty members, families, and other guests with an address of their own creation.
More information including the application process and timeline can be found here.
Senior Resources
Whether you're looking for academic support, career advice, an alumni community, or ways to socialize with your peers, the University has many different valuable resources that can be helpful.
Start off with some tips on making the most out of your senior year and goals to finish strong from your Tepper Academic Advisors!
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