Rockland Community College’s
63rd Commencement Ceremony
You started here. Now, you can go anywhere!
LIVESTREAM
62nd COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
The 62nd Commencement Ceremony was livestreamed on the Rockland CC Youtube page at 11 am on May 23, 2022. You can watch the recording of the event using the following link to recording. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
MAY 22, 2023
Follow our social media sites to check out other highlights from the ceremony and our graduates. You can also look up the hashtag #RCCgrad2023 on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
May 22, 2023
The College will hold an in-person celebration for students and their families at Clover Stadium in Pomona, NY on May 22, 2023. The Ceremony will consist of brief comments from dignitaries followed by a procession of all students in attendance. Each school will be represented by their dean and faculty members. Photos will be taken in compliance with health regulations and recommendations.
If you have any questions or concerns about the Ceremony, please email [email protected].
Contact Information
RCC Commencement
[email protected]
Records and Registration
Technology Center
Room 8110
845-574-4328
f: 845-574-4499
24/7 Student Hotline: 844-505-8071
[email protected]
FIRST IN THE FAMILY
Experience the transformative power of education through the perspective of a first-generation student as they read endearing letters from their loved ones congratulating them on graduating from Rockland Community College.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
LYNDA BAQUERO
Consumer Reporter
Emmy® Award winning Lynda Baquero is NBC 4 New York’s consumer reporter. Lynda’s “Better Get Baquero” segments resolve consumer complaints and provide updates on the latest consumer alerts. “Better Get Baquero” can be seen Monday through Friday during the 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. newscasts.
Baquero’s reporting was a key component of NBC 4 New York’s award-winning COVID-19 coverage, honored in January, 2021 with the prestigious Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for “creat(ing) a 360 view in real time of the coronavirus pandemic, with courageous and thorough reporting on the virus’s explosion in New York City.” The duPont has long been recognized as the broadcast, documentary and on-line equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize, also awarded by Columbia University.
She is also host of the long-running series “Visiones” which highlights issues that affect the Hispanic community by presenting informative conversations from newsmakers, community leaders and celebrities on arts, education and health.
Baquero has been with NBC 4 in a variety of high-profile positions and has filed reports both at home and abroad. Lynda reported live from Puerto Rico on the country’s economy and tourism and President Obama’s visit to the island in 2011; Pope John Paul II’s visit to the Holy Land; Cuba’s economy and the state of religion as the country prepared for the Pope’s historic visit. She covered the Salt Lake City and Atlanta Olympic Games; traveled to the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Puerto Rico to cover the arrival and devastating aftermath of Hurricane Georges and to Fort Bragg, North Carolina for a series of reports titled “Women in Combat.” Lynda covered also covered President Obama’s 2012 visit to New York.
Baquero has co-anchored NBC 4’s “Weekend Today in New York;” “News 4 New York at 6 P.M.” and “NewsChannel 4 at 6 P.M.”. She has also served as host of the nationally broadcast business program, “Hispanics Today”. The recipient of a 1998 local Emmy Award for “Religious Programming” for her coverage of the Pope’s visit to Cuba, Baquero also received a 2006 Emmy award for “Best Evening Newscast” with Chuck Scarborough.
Lynda joined NBC 4 from NY1 News where she was an anchor, consumer reporter and video journalist responsible for researching, writing, shooting and editing her own stories. At WCBS-TV, she worked in every aspect of the newsroom from desk assistant, to researcher, to assignment editor, and finally associate producer of the daily consumer action segment, “Troubleshooter.” Baquero was an associate producer of “NELY!” a talk show produced at WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, and for Telemundo where she wrote and co-produced various Spanish-language network specials.
Baquero has received numerous awards and recognitions. She was named one of El Diario La Prensa’s “Mujeres Destacadas” (Outstanding Women) and received the Consulate General of Israel’s “Woman of Valor” award. She was honored by New York University College of Arts and Sciences with their “Alumni Achievement” award and received the “Excellence in English Language Media” award from the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors.
Dedicated to helping young people achieve their potential, Baquero is on the Board of Directors of Let’s Get Ready, a non-profit organization that serves the educational needs of New York City students. She also serves on the Board of the Byram Hills Education Foundation, supporting students in Westchester County. She is also an active supporter of El Museo del Barrio’s arts and education programs.
Fluent in Spanish and French, Baquero is a graduate of New York University and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism. She delivered the 2013 Commencement Address at St. Patrick’s Cathedral for her alma mater Cathedral High School.
Baquero and her husband have two daughters.
Follow Lynda Baquero on Facebook and Twitter.
Need help on a consumer issue? You can reach out to Lynda and her team at NBCNEWYORK.COM/GETHELP or by calling the Consumer Tipline at 1-866-NEWS-244 and pressing 2 for consumer.
q&A WITH OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Lynda Baquero, NBC Consumer Reporter, sat down with Jolie Santiago, RCC Graduate of 2022, for an interview leading up to the Rockland Community College 2022 Commencement.
SUNY Chancellor Award Recipients









Graduate Salute
Decorate your cap for graduation. Student Involvement will be hosting cap decoration stations as a part of their Grad Salute. Sign up for a time and come to the Student Involvement, in the lobby of the Student Union, where we will provide materials for you to decorate your cap!
Dates: 5/12 – 5/20
Time: 12 pm – 2 pm
Location: Student Union Lobby
GRADUATION PHOTOS
In commemoration of this momentous milestone, we have made arrangements with a professional photography company to take photos of our RCC graduates. You must schedule the time and date to take your photos using the link below. All photos will be taken in the Student Union, Room 3214.
Students must bring their regalia with them as it will not be provided at the event.
Monday, May 8, 10 am – 6 pm
Tuesday, May 9, 9 am – 5 pm
Wednesday, May 10, 9 am – 2 pm
Thursday, May 11, 9 am – 2 pm
Friday, May 12, 12 pm – 5 pm

Apply for Graduation
To obtain a degree or certificate from Rockland Community College, students must apply for graduation. Students who believe they have met all degree requirements must complete the online Application for Graduation form in order to notify Records & Registration to review their academic history. Records & Registration will notify the student of their eligibility for graduation or outline the student’s remaining course requirements.
In order to have your name appear in the Commencement Ceremony program, a potential Spring 2023 graduate must complete the Application for Graduation by May 5, 2023. Applications may be completed after the deadline but your name may not appear in the Commencement program.
- Minimum of a 2.00 GPA is required for graduation
- Degree-seeking graduates are required to have 60+ credits and certificate-seeking students must have 25+ credits
Steps to apply for graduation:
- Check that you have completed all of your degree requirements in your Self-Service Student Profile by clicking “View DegreeWorks Audit.” Contact your Faculty or Student Success Advisor if you need assistance.
- Complete the online Application for Graduation.
- Pay the $30 fee that will be charged to your account. This charge will appear 7 – 10 days after completing the Application for Graduation.
After you apply to graduate, Records & Registration will review your application and degree requirements to confirm your eligibility to graduate. Upon review, a response will be sent to your college-issued email. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].
Student Loan Information Session
If you have borrowed student loans and want to learn more about your repayment responsibility after graduation, please contact Edwin Rivadeneyra at [email protected] to book an appointment. Appointments are available from May 16 through May 31.
During your personal counseling session you will be provided with: contact information for your loan service provider; glossary of key loan terminology; specific dates for when your first payment will be due; a breakdown of the various repayment options available; an opportunity to clarify any questions you may have regarding your student loans

Order Your Cap & Gown
Details on how to purchase and pickup your cap and gown will be sent to your college-issued email after you have applied and been approved for graduation. The pickup location will be at the RCC Bookstore, located behind the Library on the main campus in Suffern, NY.
Deadline to Order: April 1, 2023
Submit Your Video Shoutout
Congratulations on achieving this momentous milestone. Show your love and appreciation to your fellow graduates and the family, professors, mentors and friends who helped you get to this point by submitting a short, 10-second video shoutout that will be montaged together with videos submitted your fellow graduates.
It’s simple, just answer this one question:
“What advice do you have for your fellow graduates?”
We hope to embrace the diversity of the College and encourage you to speak in whatever language you prefer. Please read the guidelines below before filming your video.
Submit your video by sending an email with the video as an attachment to [email protected] with the subject line, “Commencement Video Shoutout.”
Deadline to submit your video: April 15, 2022
- Length – Make sure your video is no longer than 10 seconds.
- Language – You may speak in whatever language you prefer. We embrace diversity at RCC.
- Pick a Clean Background – If you can, pick a neutral background. Try to avoid personal items in your shot.
- Hold the Camera Steady – If you do not have assistance, attach your camera to a tripod. If you are using your phone, rest it up against a surface.
- Framing – Make sure you are in the center of the picture and get close enough to frame from the mid-chest area up. Make sure to look into the camera and do not move around too much.
- Horizontal – Record yourself with the camera held horizontally. This position will record video in a landscape format, which is ideal.
- Lighting – Make sure there is plenty of light. Avoid standing in front of a window because it may make you appear too dark.
- Audio – Make sure there isn’t any additional noise around you. Remember to speak loudly and clearly.
- Dress Professionally – Wear what you would if you were giving your speech live. Do not wear anything with logos or a busy pattern.
- Practice – Make sure to practice what you are going to say a few times so you will be more confident when the camera is rolling.
- Submit – You can submit your video by sending an email with the video as an attachment to [email protected] with the subject line, “Commencement Video Shoutout.”


BECOME THE STUDENT SPEAKER
Leave your legacy by inspiring and sharing common experiences with your graduating peers. The student who is selected to represent the graduating class will deliver their speech during the Commencement Ceremony.
Complete the Application for Student Speaker form by April 25, 2022 at 5pm. If your application is selected, finalists will audition before the Graduation Speaker Committee on April 25 and 26. Times will be announced at a date closer to Commencement.
Thank you for your interest. It is a great honor and privilege to represent your graduating class as the student speaker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please continue to check this document as it is updated frequently.
Students who are set to complete all degree requirements for August 2022, December 2022, and Spring 2023 may participate in graduation. Please confirm your eligibility with Records by applying for graduation.
Although we would love to celebrate everyone, only those who took the necessary measures to complete the form and have received confirmation to attend commencement will be allowed to walk. Commencement confirmation is separate from the email that you receive from records after you have applied for graduation. It is important to read and respond by the deadlines so that you are accounted for as we must plan according to those who have confirmed their attendance by the deadline specified on the form.
In commemoration of this momentous milestone, we have made arrangements with a professional photography company to take photos of our RCC graduates. You must schedule the time and date to take your photos using the link below. All photos will be taken in the Student Union, Room 3214.
May 16 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
May 17 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
May 18 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
May 19 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
May 20 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The graduation photo session is an RCC-sponsored event, therefore students will need to show proof of being fully vaccinated or a negative test to take a photo. Students must bring their regalia with them, as it will not be provided at the event.
You will receive a link at a later date that will ask you to confirm if you will be attending commencement at Clover Stadium. There will be additional information that you must provide on the form to secure your spot. The link will only be sent to those who have applied and were approved to participate in commencement by the Office of Records.
Students must apply for graduation, and upon approval, Records will send a link to order regalia. You will need your Student ID to place your order. Please note that your ID is under the Student Profile section in Banner (number beginning with R00). The deadline for purchasing your regalia is April 1, 2023. Regalia will not be shipped home. All students must pick up their regalia in person. You will be sent an email once the Regalia arrives with information about where and when you may come pick it up.
Students must order regalia by April 1, 2023. All students must have RCC regalia to walk in commencement no exception.
Yes, Student Involvement will be hosting events the week before Commencement. Please continue to check your RCC email for more information. They will also be listed online at sunyrockland.edu/events.
There will not be a rehearsal. Students are encouraged to attend one of the three Grad Info sessions to hear more about what to expect for commencement. The Grad Info dates will be posted at a later date. Two sessions will be offered in April and one in May. You will be able to ask questions during this event.
Graduates are encouraged to wear semi-formal dress for the celebration and all students must have on RCC regalia to participate in commencement, exceptions. Regalia must be purchased prior to commencement.
Commencement is a graduation ceremony to celebrate this memorable moment of your success. We encourage you to attend and celebrate your accomplishments.
Graduates will receive a “Name Card” upon arrival on the day of the ceremony. The “Name Card” is used to read your name as you walk across the stage. Your name is announced from this card, so please spell your name phonetically (So‧phi‧a) to assist the reader with the correct pronunciation. In addition, please ensure that you have a pen with you the day of the event.
Yes, you must apply to graduate, regardless of ceremony participation. For information on how to apply for graduation, visit Click Here for Graduation Application.
No, if students do not choose to take part in any ceremony, but their academic requirements are met, students will receive their diplomas in the mail.
Your diploma will be mailed to the address on file with Records, approximately one month after Commencement–as long as you do not have any outstanding financial obligations, and all graduation requirements have been met.
Questions about graduation eligibility should be sent to Records by email at [email protected].
Questions about the Ceremony should be sent by email to [email protected].
Please plan for two hours.
No, however, please be mindful that your peers will also be celebrating and will have guest as well.