This content was published: July 13, 2015. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
College’s 53rd commencement caps graduates’ PCC journey
Photos and story by James Hill
They came, they saw and they cried. It was a typical affair on Friday, June 12 as nearly 900 PCC graduates walked across the Memorial Coliseum stage to receive their degree or certificate during the college’s 53rd commencement.
Thousands of family members and supporters cheered the graduates on from the coliseum seats, applauding their accomplishments and their future journeys. Since 1961, PCC has more than 1.5 million alumni and this year more than 5,400 degrees, certificates and awards were given to the 2015 class.
“Some who graduate this year will immediately join the workforce, launching careers as machinists, welders, paramedics, nurses, computer programmers or other skilled workers,” said Sylvia Kelley, acting PCC president. “Others will transfer to four-year institutions to pursue bachelor’s degrees and beyond. We should all feel proud of this legacy, especially those whose commitment to PCC spans many years.”
The program included an emotional speech by student Kole Myrick and words of inspiration by commencement keynote speaker Jeff Pettit, who is a Rock Creek Campus math instructor. Festivities kicked off in style with a rousing rendition of the national anthem by 2015 graduate Lisa Bennett.
- Miss graduation? Relive the ceremony on the PCC Youtube channel.
- You can read coverage of the event in The Oregonian.
- For more fun photos, check out Poppe the Panther’s Twitter feed.
Below is a photo gallery of the night’s celebration.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »
I am so disappointed. My grandparents could not make it to graduation and the live stream promised was failed “due to technical errors”. I would like to know how many errors you can make before you quit trying yo broadcast the biggest moment in these students lives. I have enjoyed my PCC experience but I feel sick let down and heartbroken over this. My family did as well.
Hi, sorry for the bad streaming experience. Your grandparents can watch the entire ceremony on our YouTube channel: Portland Community College – Commencement 2015
I received an email from Grad images and only had the one photo, the first one everyone stood in line with the card for. We also got another photo taken after walking across the stage which were not with the first one. I called grad Images and she said that the photos were 2 different events, 5pm and 7pm and you needed to call for them to search through the photo’s to add to your account. So if you are looking for the one holding the diploma, you need to call them
Phone
850.907.2740 (Everywhere)
800.261.2576 (United States)
They will then add to your account for you to view and order.
Hey Fellow Graduates, I wanted to say that our graduation commencement ceremony was so much more then I ever imagined and simply awesome…
I personally was at first concerned about the limited posting of the event video that only displayed the first 14 minutes of the event, and the single photo being offered by Grad Images, but quickly the entire videotaped ceremony appeared on YouTube where it will always be available to share with family and friends, plus Grad Image put together several excellent pictures of me taken before during and at the end of that great ceremony, so I assume everybody else will be happy to learn all is well on the graduation front at this time…loved ones whom missed the live stream of the event due to a technical glitch, can now access the YouTube video of that event to share….onward and upward fellow graduates…congratulations to all!
Congratulations graduates!
I would like to know the date of the 2016 Commencement , can’t seem to find it on the academic calendar.
Thanks.