STEM Among the cheers and applause, graduates of Montgomery County Community College’s Class of 2024 celebrated their Commencement during three ceremonies held on May 16 in the College’s Health Sciences Center gym in Blue Bell.

As 1,533 graduates collectively received 1,613 degrees and certificates, they proudly added their names to the lengthy roster of more than 90,000 Mustang alumni spanning the college’s six decades.

Jessica Tremblay, a Health Care Administration major, started the ceremony singing the National Anthem.

To commemorate MCCC’s 60th anniversary, Dr. Victoria Bastecki-Perez, MCCC President, shared wisdom from the college’s first five presidents’ Commencement speeches.

Their collective messages encouraged graduates to focus on gratitude and hope, foster continuous learning, uphold their social responsibilities, leverage their educational gifts and strive to make a positive difference in the world. To this advice, Dr. Bastecki-Perez offered her own heartfelt message.

This year, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro joined the 2 PM ceremony to offer his commencement remarks and receive an honorary Associate in Letters degree. During his speech, he encouraged the graduates to think of their diploma as a shield and a tool.

“Let your diploma be a shield against the naysayers: the thing that blocks out the noise, silences the doubters and offers a stiff arm to the status quo. Let your diploma be that shield,” said Gov. Shapiro.

“And, let it also be a tool that you use to forge a brighter future for yourself and the rest of us. A tool you use in future studies, in the hospital, in the lab, at the drafting table, on the showroom floor, in the halls of power or wherever you choose to take your talents to fashion the job, the community, the country, the world you want to see.”

Each academic year, MCCC recognizes teaching excellence and honors full and part-time faculty whose teaching demonstrates a commitment to the well-being of students both inside and outside the classroom with special awards presented during Commencement.

In addition to the Lindback Award, MCCC presented the Part-Time Faculty Teaching Excellence Awards sponsored by eCampus Bookstore to Dyana Kimball, Theatre Arts Regular Lecturer, and Dr. Maryellen “Missy” Miller, Exercise Science and Wellness Senior Lecturer.  

MCCC’s Class of 2024 includes 523 first-generation graduates, 130 nursing graduates, 72 municipal police academy graduates, 30 veterans/active military personnel, five dual enrollment students and three All-PA Academic scholars.

The oldest graduate is 68 years and the youngest is 17. The programs with the largest number of graduates are Liberal Studies, Business Administration and Nursing.

All three ceremonies were livestreamed and are available on Montgomery County Community College’s website.

PA Governor Josh Shapiro – Montgomery County Community College Commencement Ceremony