Clark College holds in-person Commencement

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Celebrating the Class of 2021’s remarkable achievements with an in-person, socially distanced graduation      

2021 with a Clark College Penguin logo inside the zero

This will be the first time that the ceremony is held on the soccer field. Traditionally, the college’s Commencement ceremonies have been held at Sunlight Supply Amphitheatre. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the college’s 2020 Commencement ceremony was held completely virtually. This year, as restrictions on public gatherings began to lift, the college surveyed graduates to learn which format of ceremony students preferred: virtual, drive-through, or in-person. The in-person format was the top choice of survey respondents. 

“Our students have navigated through so much this academic year—pandemic, economic downturn, social unrest, struggling with issues like job loss and food insecurity,” said Clark College President Karin Edwards. “It was important to us that we honor their achievement with a ceremony that met their hopes, while still conforming with public health guidelines.” 

Other noteworthy highlights of this year’s ceremony: 

  • About 525 graduates are expected to participate in this year’s ceremony, out of approximately 1,650 graduates from the entire academic year. 
  • Graduates include those receiving Bachelor of Applied Science and associate degrees, as well as certificates and high school diplomas or equivalents. 
  • The Class of 2021 will include the first graduates from the college’s new Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Services degree program. 
  • Some of the participants are members of the Class of 2020. When that year’s Commencement was moved online, the college invited graduates to participate in the next in-person ceremony. 
  • The ceremony will be led by Dr. Edwards, and will be her first Clark College Commencement as president of the college. 
  • The student speaker is Jaelyn Sotelo, a Running Start student who is transferring to University of Washington to pursue a career in political advocacy. Introducing her is student government president Josiah Joner, also a Running Start student, who is in the third generation of his family to attend Clark College and is transferring to Stanford University in the fall. 
  • Also speaking are: Clark College Board of Trustees Chair Rekah Strong; faculty union president Suzanne Southerland; and Interim Vice President of Instruction Dr. Genevieve Howard. 
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