November 1st, 2021 by WCBC Radio
Allegany College of Maryland (ACM) 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 info@allegany.edu 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.
- ACM’s Grad Walk is limited in length and the number of attendees (Each graduate may bring up to 6 guests.) unlike traditional commencement exercises.
- All attendees, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear face masks and adhere to the college’s safety protocols.
- Individuals who have been exposed, show symptoms, or tested positive for COVID-19 may not come to campus to attend Grad Walk as part of the college’s enhanced health and safety procedures.
- All attendees must sign a COVID-19 attestation when checking into the Grad Walk experience.
“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 @alleganycollegeofmaryland at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 17, and later posted to the college’s YouTube channel @theACMutube
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 at mshedlock@allegany.edu or Anne Haynal at ahaynal@allegany.edu 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, to gradsubmissions@allegany.edu 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:
- Nov. 9 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
- Nov. 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
- Nov. 12 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
- Nov. 17 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the ACM Bedford County Campus, and
- Nov. 18 from 9:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the ACM Bedford County Campus.
Additional timeslots may be scheduled by contacting Levi Feaster at lfeaster@allegany.edu. 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.
A Q&A document about the Grad Walk and virtual commencement ceremony is available online at www.allegany.edu/graduation. Students must have applied for graduation and been officially cleared for inclusion in the virtual ceremony. Additional questions may be directed to Joanna DuVall at jduvall@allegany.edu or 301-784-5288.
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