The 55th and 56th Commencement Ceremonies will be held on the Douglas Campus on May 13, 2021 at 4 p.m, and the Sierra Vista Campus on May 14, 2021 at 2 p.m. with pre-scheduled times for graduates to participate. Both Commencement ceremonies will be in a drive-through format with celebrations throughout the entire campus loops on both campuses. Live online streaming, accessed at the Cochise College website, will allow friends and relatives to see the graduates crossing the stage and a video of pre-recorded speeches.
Cochise College awarded 1352 diplomas in 2020 and will award approximately 1323 diplomas for the current academic year. About 345 students are expected to participate in commencement ceremonies.
Offices on both the Douglas and Sierra Vista campuses will close for face-to-face assistance at noon on May 13 and May 14. Cochise College offices may have limited services available but will remain open to virtual meetings and phone calls. Motorists should be aware of heavier-than-usual traffic in the area. Those attending graduation will be directed by campus security. Graduates choose which campus they will attend and the time slot they will participate in. If you are a family member, you will need to check with your graduate to know when and where your student will be attending. There is a maximum of two cars allowed for each graduate.
The student speaker at Commencement will be Ms. Angela Moretz. She is a 2021 Cybersecurity graduate and is the President of AFCEA (Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association), a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and the National Cyber League. Moretz is married to Matthew and has three children; Gabriel, David, and Caleb. She was born and raised in Massachusetts, graduating from Lee High School. Her husband’s military career brought them to Fort Huachuca, where they decided to stay and raise their family. She hopes to start her career at Fort Huachuca in the cybersecurity field after graduation.
This year we will have two alumni marshals participating in the ceremonies. Melany Edwards-Barton (’08) is the chief executive officer of the Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce, a licensed real estate agent, and business advisor for Professional Women of Excellence. After graduating from Cochise College, she attended Northern Arizona University on a full-tuition merit scholarship, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in business administration in 2010. The computer inspired Lawana Diffie (’72) to explore its use in careers in manufacturing, law enforcement, and professional education in places like Phoenix and San Francisco. She returned to Douglas permanently in 1997 and was instrumental in the Douglas Veteran’s Memorial project. She also opened Two Flags Computer with her son and has volunteered in various capacities with Copper Queen Hospital, the American Legion, the Douglas Industrial Development Authority, the City of Douglas, the school district and more.
GradImages will photograph all graduates at the commencement ceremony. Graduates should visit the GradImages website and click Pre-Event Email Registration to enter their email address and up to six emails of loved ones who would like to view and order photos. Students who register their information on the website before their Commencement date (either May 13 or May 14) can get 20% off your purchase of $50 or more. After graduation, order online at GradImages or call (800) 261-2576.
Celebrate Your Graduate!
Family and friends are invited to create a yard sign for their graduate that will be placed along the loop of the campus the student is attending for Commencement. Yard signs are available for purchase at any center and campus at the Business Office for $3.50. Drop-off location information will be provided at the time of purchase. All decorated signs must be dropped off by Friday, May 7 at 4:30 p.m. Invitations can also be purchased at the Business Offices of the Douglas and Sierra Vista Campuses for $1 each.