Tompkins Cortland Community College President Orinthia Montague addressing students Thursday night during the college's 49th annual commencement ceremony (Peter Blanchard/Cortland Voice)

PRESS RELEASE

Dryden, New York – Tompkins Cortland Community College will celebrate the Classes of 2020 and 2021  with a combination of in-person celebrations in April and a live, virtual Commencement Ceremony on  May 18. In a message to graduating students and those that graduated in 2020, President Orinthia Montague said, “We have all been through so much together this year – and I have been so proud of  your resilience – that as we approached Commencement 2021, we knew we could not celebrate without  some kind of in-person component.” 

Graduating students, as well as those that graduated last year and missed out on a commencement  ceremony due to the pandemic, will be able to come to campus in small groups at designated times in  April to receive congratulations during a small, in-person ceremony with President Montague and other  members of the College community. These small ceremonies will be recorded and included in a video to  be presented as part of the College’s live virtual commencement celebration, which will also include a  keynote address from Professor Scott Ochs. 

Students not wishing or not able to attend the April in-person times have the option of submitting pictures to be included in the Commencement video. 

“I am happy to announce that we have planned opportunities for our students to join us safely, in  person, to celebrate their accomplishment, with an additional live virtual Commencement Ceremony  planned for May 18,” said Montague. “And I want to emphasize that all students who have graduated in  2020 or will graduate in 2021 are welcome to attend.”