Montgomery College President Dr. Jermaine F. Williams sent a memo to the Montgomery College community informing them of updated graduation plans for May of this year.
Included in the memo is an announcement that students will be able to invite guests to attend their graduation ceremony, which will take place in-person on May 19th and May 20th. The two commencement events will split graduates by last name (A-L and M-Z).
This will be the first time Montgomery College will hold an in-person commencement event since May of 2019.
Dr. Jermaine F. Williams’ full memo can be seen below:
“As you prepare to start your Spring Break, I have exciting news to share about the College’s commencement plans. Graduates can now invite guests to attend their graduation ceremony with limited available seating. We recognize how important it is for our graduates to have loved ones attend the commencement in person. We are pleased that the improving COVID-19 conditions in Montgomery County allow us to expand our commencement plans and to celebrate our students’ academic achievements.
Under this new plan, we will hold two commencement events. Graduates with last names ending in A-L will attend on Thursday, May 19; graduates with last names ending in M-Z will attend Friday, May 20. Each event will start at 10 a.m. and will be staged outside on the parking lot (#11) in front of the Performing Arts Center (PAC) at the Rockville Campus. The events will take place rain or shine: Free rain ponchos will be available just in case.
This space in front of the PAC allows us to provide seating for two guests per graduating student, with a standing area for additional guests to view the ceremony. Of course, the College will livestream the commencement and we will provide a viewing area in an adjacent building where guests can watch the livestream program.
It will be my honor to welcome the graduating students, confer the degrees, and deliver the commencement address. Mr. Michael Knapp, chair of the College’s Board of Trustees, will award the degrees. Students will walk the stage to receive their diplomas and have an opportunity to pose for pictures.
We will be updating the MC commencement webpage as more details become available. As is our tradition, MC has several end-of-year events planned for our graduates, so graduating students should watch their MC email for those details as well as important deadlines for ordering graduation gear, photos, and more.
I extend my sincere appreciation to the many MC students who demonstrated leadership in providing valuable input to the College as we formulated our commencement plans. I also thank the College faculty and staff who have contributed their time and expertise to ensure we have a successful and memorable ceremony.
As your new president, this will be my first Montgomery College commencement, as I expect is the case for most of our graduates. Together, we will celebrate your academic achievements (and all of your hard work) with anticipation for the next chapters in your academic and professional lives.
Congratulations!”
Featured photo courtesy of Montgomery College from the 2019 commencement ceremony.
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