ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. (UPDATED: May 19, 2021) – Following the recommendations from health officials, Rockland Community College will host a modified in-person celebration prior to the virtual 61st Commencement ceremony at 3 pm on May 20, 2021.
Students and family may attend the “drive-in-movie style” commemoration at 12 pm, located on the Suffern, NY campus, to limit capacity for the outdoor event. Each school will be represented by the Dean of their school and at least one faculty member. Graduates who are attending the event must enter through the Viola Road Entrance to be directed to the correct parking lot.
To gain admission on the day of the celebration, graduates will be required to show proof of either a complete vaccination or a negative COVID test that was taken within 72 hours of the event. RCC will host three days for COVID testing prior to commencement.
A link to the Virtual Commencement Ceremony will be available on the College website the morning of graduation. They can also visit sunyrockland.edu/commencement2021 on the date of the event to be linked to the livestreams on YouTube and Facebook. During the livestream, students can comment, in real time, about the event. Afterwards, students can share the video and the Commencement site with friends and family. For more information, visit sunyrockland.edu/commencement/
“I am delighted to invite our graduates and their families and friends along with RCC faculty and staff to share in this happy occasion as these students embark on the next chapters in their lives, whether it is entering the work force immediately or continuing their studies elsewhere,” says RCC President Dr. Michael Anthony Baston. “I also want to commend this year’s SUNY Excellence Award Winner Emanuel Pompeu Bastos, an international student from Brazil, who is graduating with a dual degree in Math and Automotive Technology and plans to transfer to a four-year university to obtain a BA in Engineering,”
Bastos is a member of the RCC President Society, the student representative on the Board of Trustees, a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and a Peer Mentor. He chose RCC because of its affordability and his interest in the Automotive Technology program. “RCC received me with its arms open,” Bastos says. “They believed in me, gave me opportunities and introduced me to an amazing network. They prepared me like no other place and provided me with the best experience I could have. I have a lot of people to be grateful for, but Dr. Katherine Lynch stands out. With her thoughtfulness, kindness, and her genuine desire for helping people, she is my hero at RCC. Even though she was not my professor, she made the biggest effort to support me through several hard moments through my journey here. Today, I am a stronger person thanks to her and RCC.”
The Keynote Speaker will be Linda García, Executive Director of the Center for Community College Student Engagement at The University of Texas at Austin. Previously, she served as the Assistant Director of College Relations at the Center. Before moving to UT Austin, García was Vice President of Community College Relations at the Roueche Graduate Center at National American University, and has worked at Lone Star College, Maricopa Community Colleges, UT Brownsville and Texas Southmost College. Her experience includes student development, instructional support, grant writing and teaching. She served as a coach for the American Association of Community Colleges Pathways 2.0 and continues in this same role for the Texas Pathways Project. García earned a Bachelor of Journalism with a concentration in broadcast and a doctorate in higher education administration with a specialization in community college leadership from UT Austin. Her Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies degree is from UT Brownsville.
About Rockland Community College, State University of New York
Rockland Community College, State University of New York, offers a safe, supportive learning environment for thousands of students from diverse backgrounds who appreciate small class sizes and personal attention from a distinguished, award-winning faculty that includes Fulbright scholars and SUNY Distinguished Professors. Thanks to the school’s affordable tuition, students who begin their career journey at RCC and then transfer to a four-year college can save up to $100,000 on their education. RCC is also proud to provide career training and professional development to adult learners looking to change careers or upgrade their skills through the Career Skills Academy. More information can be found at sunyrockland.edu.
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