Congratulations!
We are very excited to
have you and your guests at the APGFCU Arena at Harford Community College for
the Sixty-Third Annual Commencement In-Person Celebration. Thank you for
reserving your date and time. Please review the following information about
your In-Person Celebration appointment.
When you RSVP’d, you were asked to provide your height and other
information that was used to order your cap and gown, which the College
purchases for you.
Because you are attending the In-Person Celebration, your cap and
gown will be available at your appointment time at the APGFCU Arena and will be
pressed and ready for you to wear. There will be a preparation area in the
Arena with mirrors. If you would like to make special arrangements to pick up
your cap and gown ahead of your reservation date, please contact Commencement Tri-Chairs
Stacy Rutherford,
srutherford@harford.edu;
Samantha Saunders-Consroe,
ssaundersconsroe@harford.edu;
or Dr. Griselda Flores,
grflores@harford.edu.
Some students have asked what the recommended attire is for
graduates for the In-Person Celebration. We recommend that graduates dress
semi-casual or semi-formal. The gowns are royal blue.
Know Before You Go:
We ask that you and your guests arrive approximately 10 minutes
prior to your reservation start time. Each person attending will need to
complete the questionnaire (see link below) within 24 hours of your reservation
time. Upon arrival, each individual will be asked for their confirmation
number, which is provided when completing the health screening questionnaire.
Then, you will be provided a wristband to be worn during your visit.
• The Health Screening Questionnaire is located here: https://hccweb1.harford.edu/COVID/ScreeningForm
• For additional information about our screening process, please
go to
https://www.harford.edu/about-harford/coming-to-campus/coronavirus/
Attendees will then head to the Arena floor, where stations will
be located out on the floor for graduates and their guests to walk through
leading up to the stage area. Stations include our traditional Commencement
rose sale for guests to purchase a rose(s) for their graduate, a station to
pick up the cap and gown, followed by an area on the floor to put on the cap
and gown. Mirrors will be available.
In the stage area, which will be a low stage and ramped on both
sides, graduates will walk across the stage while their guests watch from seats
on the floor. We will have a designated area on the floor for families to take
pictures when their graduate crosses the stage. Graduates will be handed a
scroll by HCC's President, Dr. Felder. As the graduate crosses the stage,
technical staff will be recording. For Class of 2021 graduates, this footage
may be used during the Virtual Commencement Ceremony on May 27.
After crossing the stage, there will be a station where a College
photographer will take a portrait of each graduate in their cap and gown. This
is the only designated area where it will be permitted for the graduate to
remove his/her mask. For 2021 graduates, this photo will be used in the Virtual
Ceremony and will be uploaded to a site for the graduate as a special gift from
the College this year. Information will be available during your visit as to
where graduates can get their digital portrait.
The portrait station is followed by other photo stations for
families to snap their own pictures. Families will also have the opportunity to
share their
congratulations
at a selfie recording station. Graduates can also record a short selfie video.
Then don’t forget to tag us with #HarfordGrad and post on your social media the
week of May 26 – May 30!
Additional stations will be offered to surprise the graduates with
some treats from HCC's Alumni Office and Dining Services. This will conclude
the in-person portion of this year’s Commencement.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to
Commencement Tri-Chairs Griselda Flores,
grflores@harford.edu,
Stacy Rutherford,
srutherford@harford.edu;
and Samantha Saunders Consroe,
ssaundersconsroe@harford.edu.