Virtual Commencement 2021
9:30 a.m. Countdown to Commencement
10 a.m. Ceremony
View 2021 Commencement and Highlights
On Friday, May 21, the Montgomery College community celebrated the academic achievement of the Class of 2021 in a Virtual Commencement Ceremony. Commencement Program
Graduate Roll Calls
List of Graduates A-F
List of Graduates G-M
List of Graduates N-Z
See Your Graduate's Personalized Slide
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Commencement Speakers
In 2010, DeRionne Pollard assumed leadership of Montgomery College, a three-campus community college with 55,000 credit and noncredit students.
She spearheaded the development of a new Montgomery College mission and strategic plan. She has partnered actively with Montgomery County Public Schools and the Universities at Shady Grove in the creation of Achieving Collegiate Excellence and Success (ACES), a support program designed to help disadvantaged students transition from high school to college completion. The program now has 2,700 students enrolled. Montgomery College is also a member of Achieving the Dream network, a non-governmental reform movement for student success at community colleges.
Dr. Pollard was named one of Washington's 100 Most Powerful Women by Washingtonian Magazine, won a 2017 Academic Leadership Award from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and was a recipient of a Visionary Award by the Washington Area Women’s Foundation. Additionally, she has been honored by Leadership Montgomery, The Daily Record, Bethesda Magazine, and the Washington Business Journal and is a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. as well as the Silver Spring Chapter of The Links.
Dr. Pollard’s M.A. and B.A. in English are from Iowa State University, which awarded her its Distinguished Alumni Award in 2019. Her Ph.D. is in educational leadership and policy studies in higher education from Loyola University Chicago.
Board of Trustees Scholars
Ms. Arcadia Janessa Graham is completing a two-year technical training program as an automotive technician. She is graduating with a 4.0 grade point average. She is enrolled in the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA) instruction program. She is employed by Fitzgerald Hyundai Subaru in Gaithersburg. At the dealership, she has learned tips and tricks of the trade from her foreman and other well-experienced mechanics. Growing up in Poolesville, Maryland, she worked on cars with her dad. She has been very active in many volunteer efforts at Seneca Community Church. She was in a terrible car accident last year, in which her best friend and soul mate was killed. She works hard to make him proud. With the scholarship money, she will go to other trade schools to learn how to paint cars and high-performance vehicles. She would like to work as a NASCAR pit crew mechanic someday.
Ms. Yanxin Christina Yang, a business (finance) major and member of Phi Theta Kappa and Alpha Beta Gamma, is graduating with a 4.0 grade point average. Born and raised in China, she immigrated to the United States, enrolling at the Germantown Campus in 2020. As a Macklin Business Institute scholar, she was co-president of the Enactus team. The team earned fourth place in the national Enactus competition. She was a co-leader in Raptor Tank, a student-run business pitch competition. She also served as a volunteer member of the Freeman Foundation’s Freeman Assists Communities with Extra Support advisory board and Meals on Wheels. She received MC’s Excellence in Business Award, Excellence in Business Student Leadership Award, MBI Scholar Award, and Honors Scholar Award. Outside school, she is a manager at a bubble tea shop. She wants to pursue a bachelor’s degree in finance and open up a financial advisory firm.
Mr. Gerarod Paul Rendon, a hospitality management major and member of PhiTheta Kappa and Alpha Beta Gamma, is graduating with a4.0 grade point average. A native of Georgia, he moved to Maryland in 2019. During college, he worked full time at luxury hotels in the District of Columbia. He earned the Excellence in Hospitality Management Award. He is a recipient of the Carin-Soros Hospitality Scholarship and the Marriott Center Scholarship. In his spare time, he volunteers for the Red Cross on the Disaster Action Team, providing 24-hour immediate support and assistance to individuals and families who have been impacted by a home fire or other local disasters. After graduation, he intends to continue his education and pursue a bachelor’s degree in family science at the University of Maryland.
Ms. Kenisha Salvary, a general studies (integrated studies) major, is graduating with a 4.0 grade point average. She was born in Arlington, Virginia, and was raised in Trinidad and Tobago. She began her postsecondary education at Northern Virginia Community College and transferred to Montgomery College. She has completed 3,700 hours of community service with AmeriCorps. Through AmeriCorps, she has a proven success record in community organizing and outreach efforts to end poverty. At 21, she created the first Neighborhood and Youth Committee in Manassas, Virginia. As a second-year AmeriCorps member, she moved to Washington, D.C., and began working with the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC). She taught English, poetry, and soccer to middle school children. She often mentored young girls, offering inspiration through her own story of enduring hardship, overcoming homelessness, and discovering self-empowerment. She loves to play soccer, write short stories, and spend time with her son, Andre.
Campus Honors Convocations
Every year Montgomery College has the distinct privilege of celebrating outstanding students and artists, student scholars, honor society members, and state and national award winners. You can view all awards and awardees by honor or campus.
Social Filters and Backgrounds
Use these filters and backgrounds on your social media posts and calls to show off your MC pride for this year’s Commencement. Be sure to tag @montgomerycollege and use #MCGrad2021 in your posts!
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Other Ways to Watch and Follow
Watch and Follow Live via MC Facebook or YouTube
Facebook Livenew window
YouTube Livestreamnew window
Social Media: Follow us on social media at #MCGrad2021
Alternate viewing in Montgomery County, Maryland:
Cable channel 10 (Comcast, RCN & Verizon)
Comcast channel 998 (HD)
RCN 1059
Frequently Asked Questions
The graduate participation website opened on March 30, 2021. All eligible graduates have received an email with instructions to login to the participation site for uploading content (photos, messages, videos).
View this video for detailed instructionsnew window.
Feel free to upload any or all of the requested content. Graduates will have until midnight on May 7, 2021, to upload their photos, videos, and messages.
On May 8, 2021, the content will move over to production. No additional content can be added or changed after May 8, 2021.
Please note: select graduates who provide additional content may be used during the commencement program. On Commencement day you will also be emailed your individual graduate clip to keep for prosperity and to share with your family and friends. The full roll call of graduates will be available at the conclusion of the commencement livestream program on May 21, 2021 and thereafter on the commencement website and Montgomery College YouTube channel.
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- Germantown Campus: Professor Michelle Prendergast
- Rockville Campus: Professor Sue Adler
- Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus: Professor Satarupa Das
Complete an Information Change Form (PDF, 
) and attach it when you complete the Raptor Central Online Request Formnew window. It will be forwarded to Records and Registration for processing.
Additional Questions: If you have any additional questions, please contact the Special Events office. An events staff member will get back to you shortly.
2020 Commencement
View 2020 Commencement highlights: video, graduate clips, roll call, speakers, scholars, and more.