Produced by the award-winning Palomar College Television (PCTV) team, the event will honor hundreds of graduates after the regularly-scheduled May ceremony on campus was cancelled due to COVID-19.

SAN MARCOS — Hundreds of Palomar College graduates will participate in a virtual commencement ceremony at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 19, 2020. The event is a unique celebration of students’ resilience and determination after COVID-19 disrupted face-to-face classes and gatherings, including the regularly scheduled commencement exercises in May.

The ceremony produced by PCTV will be available to view on the college’s homepage at the scheduled time.

“While this last semester has been incredibly challenging, we hope that you will reflect on this academic year and recognize your spirit of tenacity, perseverance and desire to succeed,” said Acting Superintendent/President Dr. Jack Kahn in his remarks to the class of 2020. “You not only inspire me but you inspire your faculty, your fellow students, your family members, and friends.”

Among the honorees will be Jennifer Corona, the 2020 Palomar College Valedictorian. Commencement speakers include Dr. Kahn; Associated Student Government (ASG) President Linus Smith; and Leanne Maunu, Palomar’s 2018-19 Distinguished Faculty Award Recipient. The National Anthem will be performed A cappella by Palomar College student Elias Questenberg.

“We can hold our heads up high knowing that we are the graduating class that did not give up, we are the graduating class of difficult times, we are the graduating class of when things were hard, not when they were easy,” Smith said in his address to fellow graduates. “We persisted despite the circumstances that have been thrown out at us in the last several months, and we earned our place here today.”

Maunu added: “You have inspired us like never before, especially this past semester, as we have witnessed you take on the challenges of meeting your professors and classmates on Zoom and in Canvas—and of venturing out into the world in face masks in order to meet your many responsibilities.”

At 4:43 p.m., just before the official ceremony, the college will share pre-recorded congratulatory messages. The ceremony will premiere at www.palomar.edu at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 19, 2020. Click here to go to the Palomar College homepage.