FCC’s 68th Commencement Ceremony
On May 21, 2026, Frederick Community College students, and the family, friends, faculty and staff who have guided and supported them through their journey, gathered to celebrate the Class of 2026’s many achievements and their newfound status as proud FCC alumni. This represented the College’s largest graduating class in a decade—and living examples of talented FCC students overcoming challenges and forging their own paths to success through hard work, determination, and resilience.
Commencement remarks acknowledged:
- Education is more than academic knowledge.
- Critical thinking, adaptability, and high moral character matter as much as technical expertise.
- Personal growth requires embracing and learning from inevitable failures.
- The future is not something you wait for—it's something you build.
You are more ready than you think. You have learned to think critically, solve problems, communicate effectively, adapt to change, and persevere through uncertainty. And in today’s world, those are the skills that matter most…At FCC, we talk about being ‘Future Ready.’ That does not mean predicting exactly what comes next. It means being prepared to respond - no matter what comes next and helping shape what comes next.
- President Annesa Cheek, Ed.D.
Testimonials
Failure is part of growth. If you’re trying to do something bold, difficult and meaningful… Failure requires risk. Every person you admire has failed, some spectacularly…The real danger isn’t failure. It’s living so cautiously that you never take risks.
Aruna Miller, Maryland Lieutenant Governor
You earned something valuable here—not only an education, but proof that you can set a goal, stay committed, persevere through challenges, and achieve it. That confidence will carry you far.
Ted Luck, FCC Board of Trustees Chair
Your story matters. Even the parts you struggled to survive, even the moments you wanted to give up, and even the chapters you don’t always talk about…They built you into someone who is resilient, someone who is capable, and someone who has the power to make a difference in the lives of others.
Student Speaker Natara Boateng, Associate of Arts in Psychology
Sometimes, the paths we never planned end up shaping us the most. And if there’s one thing this moment proves, it’s this: we are not defined by the paths we started on—but by the courage it took to keep going and the strength it took to finish.
Student Speaker Tashina Jordan, Associate of Applied Science and Certificate of Accomplishment, American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation