Five Towns College will celebrate a live and in-person Commencement for both the classes of 2020 and 2021 at 9 a.m. on Saturday, October 9, 2021 at the esteemed Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts.
“We want to give these graduates the ceremony they deserved and show them and their families just how proud we are of all they have accomplished here at the College,” said Five Towns College President David Cohen.
He continued: “These graduates expressed a desire for a real, in-person graduation not a virtual event. The pandemic was long and disruptive. This Commencement celebration celebrates them in the grand style that they deserve.”
To accommodate both classes impacted by the pandemic, the College selected The Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, a beautiful beaux arts theatre. The architectural and ornate interior is a wonderful backdrop to celebrate not just students’ academic accomplishments, but, according to college officials, represents a shared optimism for the future and the return to normal for all.
The ceremony will include performances by the Five Towns College Chamber Singers and Choir as well as by members of the Theatre Arts Division.
Two honorary doctorate degrees will be presented to individuals who are major forces in the entertainment and music industries:
Five Towns College will bestow an Honorary Doctor of Music (Mus.D.) upon musician Victor Wooten, a five time Grammy Award winning bass guitarist, who rose to fame as part of the highly acclaimed group Bela Fleck and The Flecktones. Wooten has been ranked as one of the top ten bass guitarists of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine. Victor Wooten will address the graduates following the conferral of this degree.
The College will also bestow an Honorary Doctor of Music (Mus.D.) on long-time Long Island music educator William Fortgang, who served on the College’s faculty before retiring in 2020. He came to the institution following decades of service in Long Island’s public schools.
Graduates are encouraged to take photos and videos celebrating their graduation and share them on social media using #FTCGrad2020 or #FTCGrad2021. Graduates will receive their diplomas by mail at a later date.
Tickets are required for guests and can be obtained from graduating students. Proof of vaccination is required to all who attend in person. For those who are unvaccinated or can’t attend in-person, the Commencement will be live-streamed through the College’s website ftc.edu. Watch the Live Stream at ftc.edu/live.
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