Montgomery College held its 79th annual commencement exercises on May 21st, honoring graduates across multiple academic disciplines in front of packed crowds of family, faculty, and supporters.

The ceremony featured several speakers and administrators, including Montgomery College president Dr. Jermaine F. Williams, who has worked with ten separate colleges throughout his professional career in positions ranging from president and vice president to assistant dean and director of student success initiatives.

Chair of the Board of Trustees Gloria Aparicio Blackwell also addressed attendees during the ceremony. Blackwell, a Venezuela native who enrolled at Montgomery College in 1986, delivered the ceremony’s acknowledgment of Indigenous land and emphasized the importance of inclusion and representation, specifically recognizing the Piscataway and Conoy peoples.

Throughout the ceremony, speakers repeatedly emphasized perseverance, opportunity, and community. Many graduates reached commencement while balancing employment, financial hardship, family responsibilities, and long commutes throughout the school year.

One of the ceremony’s more noticeable aspects was the diversity present both onstage and in the audience. Graduates represented a wide range of cultures, age groups, and academic backgrounds, something that has long distinguished Montgomery College’s student body.

Following the ceremony, graduates gathered with friends, professors, and relatives for photos and celebrations outside the venue as the Class of 2026 officially concluded its time at Montgomery College.