by Charlotte Smith
Bladen Community College held its annual graduation ceremony on Friday, May 14, 2021. Graduates and BCC staff members celebrated uniquely this year, showcasing resilience and fortitude amid a Pandemic.
BCC President Dr. Amanda Lee stated, “Graduation is my favorite time of the year, and this year is no exception.”
Dr. Lee proved this statement as she stood on concrete in heels from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., shaking hands, posing for photos with each graduate in attendance, and wishing them well.
There were stations around the campus offering free gift bags, yard signs, food, drinks, photo ops, and more. A band rocked the parking lot at the library with live music as people in attendance danced and enjoyed the festivities.
Chad Porter, a nationally renowned motivational speaker and author with local ties, was the guest speaker. Porter was on site offering autographs with his best-selling book, “Severed Dreams.”
At 8:15 p.m., the college broadcasted a video of the virtual graduation ceremony on a big screen featured on the lawn.
Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer Jeff Kornegay stated during the virtual ceremony, “Congratulations Class of 2021. You know, as you entered the college for the very first time, you had a goal in mind, and that goal was to graduate, and you’ve done it. You’ve met that accomplishment.” In closing, Kornegay challenged the graduates to continue setting goals in life and congratulated them again on their accomplishments.
Vice President of Student Services, Barry Priest, thanked the students for choosing Bladen Community College and said, “Now go and be awesome!”
BCC SGA President and member of the Class of 2021 Michael Dunbar gave the invocation. Jackson Bostic with Career and College Promise and BCC 2021 Graduate sang the National Anthem. The video included the BCC graduates’ names, photos, degrees, and quotes.
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Students and parents alike were very impressed with the graduation service. Stephaine Norris, the mother of Nick Norris, a 2021 BCC graduate, stated, “This is the gold standard of graduations!”
The public is welcome to view the virtual graduation on Bladen Community College’s social media and on YouTube.
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