The College of Central Florida will host its spring 2021 commencement on Friday, May 7, with two virtual ceremonies to honor graduates.
A livestream of the Certificate, Associate in Science and bachelor’s degrees will begin at 3 p.m. and a livestream of the Associate in Arts commencement will begin at 5 p.m. Both virtual commencement messages will be featured on YouTube (@CollegeofCentralFL). Links can be found at www.CF.edu/graduation.
Prior to the ceremony, graduates will have an opportunity to upload a photo, video and personal message to create a custom slide that will be combined to become part of the full ceremony. They can then view with friends and family to hear their name announced and see their custom message. Individual clips will also be shareable on social media.
“We have been determined to keep our students and their families safe during the pandemic, and at the same time ensure we still celebrate their success,” said Dr. Saul Reyes, vice president of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs. “We are excited to bring students together virtually, to honor their hard work and share their stories with as many people as possible.”
The video will feature remarks from CF’s Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, Ire Bethea Sr., who is a lifelong resident of Ocala and a graduate of Ocala High School, Central Florida Community College and St. Leo University. Bethea represents District 2 on the Ocala City Council and served the City of Ocala and the Boys and Girls Club of Marion County for a combined 30 years before retiring. Bethea has volunteered with multiple organizations and committees throughout his career and retirement, and many of his volunteer efforts focus on helping Marion County’s youth.
CF will post a PDF of the commemorative graduation program online and a printed copy of the program will be mailed to each graduate in the weeks following the ceremony.
For more information about CF graduation or to access the videos visit www.CF.edu/graduation.