Hancock College prepares for modified commencement ceremony

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Students at Allan Hancock College will be able to cross the stage and graduate with modifications for second year in a row.

Graduates will start behind the wheel and driving.

Get off the car, give one of the faculty members a card to call their name and walk across the stage. 

A typical graduation ceremony takes about an hour and a half. However, the modified graduation takes so long, two sessions will be necessary.

College administrators know this because August graduates went through a similar ceremony last year.

“This will take us 6-8 hours total,” said Hancock College President Kevin Walthers. “If you think about it, it is each car pulling up and a student getting out.”

The deadline for Hancock students to apply for graduation is May 17.