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Media Contact:
Courtney Davis
Assistant Director for Public Relations
Prince George’s Community College
daviscl@pgcc.edu
Prince George’s Community College to Celebrate Graduates at 63rd Commencement Ceremony on May 26, 2022
LARGO, Md. (May 18, 2022) – Prince George’s Community College will hold its 63rd Commencement exercises on May 26 at 6:30 p.m. More than 1,670 students are candidates for graduation at the ceremony, which will be held at the Show Place Arena and Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. The event will be broadcast live on the College’s YouTube channel. It will also be available for viewing within Prince George’s County on PGCC-TV, which can be found on Verizon FiOS on Channel 44 and Xfinity on Channels 75 and 995 (HD).
“This is an exciting time for Prince George’s Community College as we prepare to celebrate our graduates during our first in-person Commencement ceremony in two years,” said Falecia D. Williams, Ed.D., Prince George's Community College president. “Our students are courageous. They have faced uncertainty with determination in an admirable way, and we have every hope in their continued success wherever their path may lead.”
Maryland State Sen. Melony G. Griffith will be the keynote speaker for the 2022 Commencement ceremony. She is president pro tempore for the Senate and the first Black woman to hold that position. Sen. Griffith is also the chair of the Budget and Taxation Committee's Subcommittee on Health and Human Services and a valued member of the Maryland Senate senior leadership team, providing input and guidance on major policy initiatives.
An alumna of Howard University, Sen. Griffith holds a master’s degree in social work. She earned her bachelor’s degree in human services and psychology from Montana State University, Billings (formerly Eastern Montana College). Continuing her education in 2014, Sen. Griffith completed the Community Health Leadership Program through the Satcher Health Leadership Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, and that same year received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the Virginia University of Lynchburg, School of Liberal Arts. She currently serves as deputy director of the Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council.
This year’s Distinguished Graduate from Prince George's Community College, Frances Oladimeji, will also speak at the ceremony. While a nursing student at the College, Oladimeji was an Honors Academy member who maintained a 3.9 GPA. She also earned national recognition for her scholarship, leadership, and service from the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society as a Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar. Oladimeji graduated in December 2021 and is currently working while pursuing her B.S.N. at the University of Maryland School of Nursing.
“We all need a supportive community to help unleash our God-given potential,” said Oladimeji. “Prince George’s Community College was that community for me. I’m honored and grateful to be a graduate of this reputable College.”
Other Commencement speakers include Falecia Williams, Ed.D., president, Prince George's Community College; Sidney Gibson, chair, Prince George's Community College Board of Trustees; and Clayton Railey, Ph.D., executive vice president and provost of Teaching, Learning, and Student Success.
Spring 2022 graduates include 228 students from the College's Early and Middle College Programs, which enable first-generation and low-income students to earn their high school diploma, specialized certification, and a college degree within four to six years.
Follow Prince George’s Community College on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @pgccnews to stay connected.
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About Prince George’s Community College
Named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance designated by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security (2015-2020), Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) provides high-quality education and training for the progressive and career-oriented residents of Prince George’s County. From new high school graduates and career seekers to more seasoned professionals and senior citizens looking to enhance their skillsets, PGCC is comprised of students who represent a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and goals. Serving nearly 25,000 individuals annually, the College is the first choice for higher education for residents of Prince George's County. Collaborative partnerships, responsive degree and training programs, and a commitment to student success enables PGCC to address diverse education and workforce development demands. For more information, visit the College website at www.pgcc.edu. Prince George’s Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104; (267-284-5000); www.msche.org. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.