Graduation is coming, and we will be together...Graduation is the culmination of hard work and dedication for our students and for us. During this past COVID year, we were able to hold virtual ceremonies that allowed for a more personal graduation experience. I am so proud of our teams that made these virtual graduations so honoring and celebratory. I loved seeing the students’ photos with their families and their words of gratitude for their families and for our AC employees. Seeing so many of our students holding their babies, hugging their kids, and celebrating with their families was an important reminder that “Maria” truly represents our students.
While these virtual ceremonies celebrated our students in personal ways with photos and confetti cannons, the virtual could not truly replace the physical. I am excited that we will hold in-person ceremonies for our May 2021 graduates.
Amarillo College will host two graduations at Hodgetown on Friday, May 14, 2021, at 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm. While the ceremony will still challenge our traditions, we have the opportunity to be together with our students safely. Because Hodgetown must follow Major League Baseball rules for their franchise, the Arizona Diamondbacks, they will set up for social distancing and require masks. I am willing to wear my mask if it means we can hold the ceremony in person. It will be glorious.
Our May 2021 graduation will close an incredible year of uncertainty and fear. It also closes a year of great love and success. Our May graduation will be a celebration of our student's accomplishments. Yet, it will also be a celebration of our college and how we bravely and effectively managed the pandemic. Certainly, our experiences with COVID-19 are not over – the variants will ensure we continue to monitor this virus. With the vaccines and safety protocols, we can bring Amarillo College back to full-throttle. Our May graduation at Hodgetown will be a time of reflection on what we’ve survived and a time of celebration for what is to come.
Much love,
