ALLEGANY COLLEGE OF MARYLAND ANNOUNCES GRAD WALK AND VIRTUAL COMMENCEMENT
CUMBERLAND, Md. (Nov. 1, 2021) – Allegany College of Maryland will host a Grad Walk from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 16 and 17 to celebrate its fall 2021 graduates. The
Grad Walk will take place in the college’s Physical Education Building. Students must
reserve their special Grad Walk experience timeslot by calling 301-784-5005 or emailing Thomas Welcome Center staff by Dec. 14.
Graduates will have the chance to be congratulated by college leadership while hearing their
name and degree announced, take official graduation photos as well as selfies, and
receive a special graduation gift from the college. Attendees may receive their diplomas
and/or certificates at the Grad Walk. They may have up to six guests in attendance.
PROTOCOLS TO ENSURE SAFETY
ACM is committed to creating a safe Grad Walk experience for everyone. Allegany County,
Maryland, continues to experience high rates of community transmission of COVID-19
and low vaccination rates. The college strongly encourages attendees to be vaccinated.
“Even in this brief recognition of their achievements, I’m excited to have the opportunity
to honor our students in person,” said Dr. Cynthia Bambara, college president. “I
welcome elbow bumps and the chance to see families celebrate with their loved ones.”
VIRTUAL CEREMONY
The college will host a virtual commencement ceremony. The virtual ceremony will be
streamed on ACM’s Facebook page at 7 p.m. on Dec. 17 and later posted to the college’s YouTube channel.
ACM President Cynthia Bambara will open the program with a welcome to the candidates
for graduation and their guests. ACM Board of Trustees Chair Kim Leonard will offer greetings followed
by remarks provided by student commencement speakers. ACM Instructional and Student
Affairs Senior Vice President Kurt Hoffman will present the candidates for graduation,
assisted in his duties by commencement Grand Marshal Dr. Donna Brunelli and Assistant
Grand Marshal Ray Hunt, both ACM professors and program directors. Faculty members
will announce the names of the graduates as their individual recognition slides are
shown.
Students will receive an email communication to their ACM student email account outlining
the details of the virtual commencement.
CAPS AND GOWNS
Beginning on Nov. 8, graduates may pick up their graduation announcements, tassels,
caps, and gowns at the Advising Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through
Friday prior to the virtual ceremony. Students from outside of the area should contact
Marianne Shedlock or Anne Haynal to have their announcements and regalia mailed or sent to the Bedford County Campus.
PHOTO SUBMISSIONS
Students are responsible for submitting pictures of themselves, preferably in their caps and gowns, by 12 p.m. on Dec. 15. Grad Walk
photographs will not be available for use in the virtual commencement.
The college will professionally photograph students free of charge. They are asked
to sign in with the photographer in the College Center lounge before being photographed
outdoors and may only remove their face masks upon instruction from the photographer
during their session. Unless indicated below, all photography dates and times are
first-come, first-serve at the Cumberland Campus:
Additional timeslots may be scheduled by contacting Levi Feaster. On the day of commencement, graduates are encouraged to take photos and videos celebrating their graduation and
share them on social media using #ACM2021grad. Graduates who do not attend the Grad Walk will be mailed their diplomas and/or certificates.
All graduates will be mailed a commencement program.
Students must have applied for graduation and been officially cleared for inclusion
in the virtual ceremony. Additional questions may be directed to Joanna DuVall or 301-784-5288. A Q&A document about ACM’s Grad Walk and virtual commencement ceremony is available.
