Spokane Community College and Spokane Falls Community College will confer more than 3,100 degrees and certificates upon students at in-person ceremonies Friday, June 17 at the Spokane Arena.
This is the first time since June 2019 that Community Colleges of Spokane students will graduate in person, after CCS cancelled the 2020 ceremony and held a virtual graduation in 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Spokane Falls Community College‘s commencement is set to begin at 3 p.m. and Spokane Community College at 7 p.m. Both colleges will feature addresses from college leadership, singing of the National Anthem by the SFCC college choir, and speeches by Associated Student Government officers.
No advance tickets are required and everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.
Both colleges are welcoming graduates from previous years to walk in person, an honor they missed during the height of the pandemic. The Riverfront Park Pavilion and Great Northern Clocktower also will be lit up with CCS colors, yellow and blue. The Pavilion on Wednesday, June 14 and Thursday, June 15, and the clock tower from Wednesday through Friday of that week.
“This year’s commencement ceremony will be truly special,” said CCS Chancellor Christine Johnson, who is set to retire at the end of 2022. “After two long years, we’ll finally gather and celebrate together the impressive accomplishments of our incredible students and dedicated faculty.”
Of the 2021-2022 graduates, SFCC is awarding approximately:
- 850 Associate of Arts (AA) transfer degrees.
- 483 professional-technical degrees.
- 48 Bachelor of Applied Science degrees.
- 99 certificates.
- 148 associate degrees to Running Start students.
At SFCC’s Pullman campus, 52 students are graduating with AA transfer degrees or certificates, while 11 are earning their high-school diploma, and three are earning their General Educational Development (GED) diploma.
“This graduation punctuates a remarkable close to a challenging academic year,” said SFCC President Kimberlee Messina. “Throughout the ups and downs of uncertainty during the pandemic, our students have remained steadfast, and this day is all about commemorating their effort.”
To SCC’s 2021-2022 graduating class, the school is awarding approximately:
- 516 Associate of Arts (AA) transfer degrees.
- 414 certificates and degrees in business, hospitality and information technology.
- 476 certificates and degrees in technical education.
- 304 certificates and degrees in health and environmental sciences.
- 182 associate degrees to Running Start students.
At SCC’s rural education sites, Newport center is awarding 62 degrees, and Colville, Republic and Inchelium together are awarding 111 degrees.
SCC’s Adult Basic Education program is holding a graduation ceremony at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 14 at the SCC Walter Johnson Sports Complex on campus. The program is graduating 55 English as a Second Language students, while 170 students are earning their high school diploma via High School+, and 159 students are earning GED diplomas.
“I’m overjoyed to be celebrating in person,” said SCC President Kevin Brockbank. “It’s been a long road to get here – back to in-person graduations – and we’re going to make sure our students are properly honored for the work they’ve put in the past few years.”
Nine international students from countries including Sweden, Viet Nam, Ukraine, Kenya and Taiwan also will earn degrees at CCS.
Community Colleges of Spokane is a dynamic, 12,300-square-mile state community college district that includes Spokane Community College, Spokane Falls Community College and five rural education sites, serving residents in Pend Oreille, Stevens, Whitman, Ferry and parts of Lincoln counties.