Calhoun Community College administrators are respecting the struggles students have had with continuous COVID restrictions in 2021 and will be celebrating their accomplishments this year by waiving all graduation fees for students who plan to participate in the school’s annual commencement ceremony on May 12. They are also moving commencement exercises to the 6,000-seat VBC arena.
According to interim President Dr. Jimmy Hodges, the fees being waived for students include their cap and gown purchase, as well as the cost for diploma covers.
He also laments the traditional outdoor event is subject to rainy spring weather in North Alabama and always runs the risk of being moved at the last minute to the Kelley Gymnasium, limiting the number of friends and family the students can invite.
“In the event of rain, the college is forced to hold the ceremony in the Kelley Gymnasium, which has a maximum capacity of 2,500 people, preventing students who are walking to invite all of their family and friends,” said Hodges. “This year, I’ve asked the Calhoun Graduation Committee and the administration team to work with me to help remove all obstacles that would prevent our students from having their family and friends present as they walk across the graduation stage, and we did just that.”
“Calhoun is excited to announce that for the first time in the college’s history, graduation will be held in the arena at the Von Braun Center (VBC) in Huntsville,” added Hodges.
School officials hope this new decision will not only help increase graduation participation numbers, but also that a record turnout of family and friends will be in attendance to help celebrate the great accomplishments of its students.
“Our students work so hard throughout their time at Calhoun to earn their certificates/degrees, and we most certainly feel they deserve to not be limited on the number of family and friends to invite on their milestone day,” said Dr. Patricia Wilson, Calhoun vice president of Student Services. “We are looking forward to starting a new tradition at the college. We hope this solution not only excites our students but that it also encourages them to allow us to celebrate them as they deserve.”
The college has not yet announced its commencement speaker this year.
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