SOUTH PORTLAND — Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) will celebrate its 78th commencement on Sunday, honoring the achievements of hundreds of graduates as they gather with family, friends, faculty and staff. 

A total of 1,149 students will receive 1,246 degrees and certificates during the ceremony at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland. The Class of 2025 represents one of SMCC's most diverse and determined graduating classes, shaped by real-world challenges and defined by their perseverance, adaptability and success

"The Class of 2025 embodies the very best of what it means to be resilient, determined and forward-looking," SMCC President Kristen Miller said. "Each graduate has faced real-world obstacles that tested their resolve, yet here they stand, ready to take the next step. Their success is a testament to their hard work and their ability to adapt, persevere and grow in the face of complex and often unpredictable challenges." 

One such graduate is Katelyn McKay, SMCC's 2025 Student of the Year. Katelyn's journey began with a high school visit to SMCC, which opened their eyes to the possibilities of a community college education. Although life challenges necessitated a temporary break from their studies, Katelyn returned with renewed determination and found support through the College's Student Life and TRIO programs. "To me, SMCC is a safe haven — a place for second chances filled with both support and the opportunity to offer support to others," they said. 

Katelyn's story reflects SMCC's strength in helping students discover and define their paths. "Whether students come to us with a clear goal or are still figuring out what inspires them, SMCC offers the flexibility, support and opportunities they need to explore their interests, build confidence and create a future that is meaningful to them," Miller said.  

Mason Campbell is a shining example of how students can discover a new career path at SMCC. After earning an EMT degree from SMCC and working in the field for several years, Campbell, a military veteran, returned to the College to pursue a new career path. "I was doing EMT work for a long while, and it was time to make a change — and I knew the perfect place to go: SMCC," he said. While balancing multiple jobs and raising a family, Mason found the College's flexibility and support services essential. "SMCC made it easy for me to work around what I had going on," he said. "The number of resources available — like tutoring or just asking other students — made it easy enough for me to get along, and it's kind of what enabled me to juggle all that." His hard work paid off — Mason now works in information technology troubleshooting at Tyler Technologies, a role that aligns directly with his new career path. 

The Maine Free College Scholarship program has provided tuition-free access to community college for recent high school graduates. Removing financial barriers has opened doors for individuals who might not have otherwise considered higher education while helping to build a more skilled and educated workforce for Maine's future. 

For Darrian Blanchard, SMCC's Free College Scholarship opened the door to higher education after high school and set him on a path toward a four-year degree. "SMCC allowed me to start my college journey without the heavy financial burden," he said. Beyond the classroom, Darrian found fulfillment working in the Learning Commons tutoring fellow students. "I have found that the faculty and mainly the Learning Commons have been such a great asset to me as an individual here," he said. "I've been working in tutoring for about two of the three years I've been here. Everyone here is just great, and they're so helpful." After graduating, Darrian will transfer his SMCC credits to the University of Southern Maine. "I'm excited to see where the path leads using what I've learned at SMCC." 

SMCC's graduates hail from every corner of Maine, the United States, and the world. Members of the Class of 2025 come from all 16 counties in Maine, as well as from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. They also represent states across the country, including California, Colorado, Delaware, Iowa, Kentucky, North Dakota, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Virginia.

The graduating class is also globally diverse, with students from 36 countries outside the United States: Afghanistan, Angola, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Germany, Guatemala, Haiti, Iraq, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, South Africa, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, United Kingdom, Vietnam and Zambia. 

From SMCC, graduates will continue their education at institutions such as the University of Southern Maine, the University of Maine, the University of New England, St. Joseph’s College, and other colleges and universities in Maine. Others will transfer to private and public institutions throughout New England and beyond, including Bentley, Mount Holyoke, Smith and more. 

SMCC graduates are entering the workforce across a wide range of industries. They will be working for hospitals and medical facilities, law enforcement agencies, manufacturing companies, restaurants, creative agencies, and numerous other organizations in Maine and beyond.

The Class of 2025 is distinguished by its academic excellence. The average Grade Point Average (GPA) among graduates is 3.21. Thirty-eight graduates earned a perfect 4.0 GPA, while 68 students achieved a GPA of 3.95 or higher. The average age of this year’s graduates is 23, with the youngest graduate just 16 years old and the oldest 66. Additionally, 76 graduates have previously earned a bachelor’s degree and 13 have earned a master’s degree. Ten percent of the graduates —114 students— are members of the international honor society Phi Theta Kappa, recognizing their outstanding academic achievement. 

SMCC's commencement ceremony will be held Sunday, May 18, from 2-4:30 p.m. at the Cross Insurance Arena, 45 Spring St., Portland. Gabe Hoffman-Johnson, founder and Community Officer of the Portland Hearts of Pine soccer club, will be the distinguished speaker. 

Admission is free and tickets are not required. There is no limit to the number of guests. Doors open at noon and attendees are encouraged to arrive between noon and 1:15 p.m. Security protocols will be in place, and all people and bags will be searched. Please allow extra time and minimize personal belongings.

For additional event details, visit www.smccME.edu/commencement. 

The ceremony will be livestreamed on SMCC's YouTube channel at www.smccME.edu/commencementstream.