On Sunday, the Patriot Center at George Mason University hosted a sea of black caps, rather than its usual green, for Northern Virginia Community College’s commencement exercises.
Of the 5,700 graduates of this year’s class, 650 NOVA students donned those black caps and participated in the graduation ceremony.
Students who chose to attend the ceremony were recognized individually by degree type. James L. White, chair of the Northern Virginia Community College Board said that looking out at the graduates “I see the future of Northern Virginia”. College President Robert Templin noted that this year’s graduates hailed from 180 countries.
Angrae Johnson a 2011 graduate from NOVA’s medical campus introduced keynote speaker Congressman Gerald Connolly. Connolly used his address to share what he learned from a would-be vocation as a catholic priest.
“Be prepared for the unexpected…don’t set rigid goals for your life”, Connolly admonished, “and if you’re not having fun, you’re not living life to it’s fullest potential,” said Connolly. Trying to reassure graduates, Connolly promised “jobs will come, opportunity will knock.”
Turning to the presentation of degrees, Executive Vice President of Academics John T. Dever announced to students “the time has come” to cheers from the eager graduates. Students crossed the stage individually to much applause, and one short-lived beach ball that was tossed into the air.
