Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — With the Territory still under the Code Red declaration, for its 76th Commencement, the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) has selected a format which adheres to existing safety protocols, while minimizing health risks to the participants, especially the graduates.

The Spring 2022 Commencement Ceremony, which will be held this Friday, May 20th, beginning at 10 a.m., will be the College’s first ever drive-through commencement. Each graduate will approach the designated receiving site in a vehicle, which they will only exit long enough to receive their degree, certificate and other honors.

While the final number will be subject to examination results, the College anticipates that 73 students will graduate in-person, with another three who are currently off-island being awarded their credentials in absentia.

Expected to take part in this Friday’s ceremony are Hon. Governor Peleti Mauga, the Board of Higher Education, ASCC President Dr. Rosevonne Pato, the College’s Executive Leadership Team, and a select number of Deans and Directors.

In observance of social distancing requirements and due to space limitations in the ceremonial tent, the ASCC faculty will not be among the official participants.

The ceremony’s program will include some of the features standard to an ASCC graduation, including words of encouragement from the Governor and the ASCC President, but in the interest of keeping the duration of the event to a minimum, this semester there will not be a featured Keynote Speaker.

The graduates will assemble in their vehicles in the two parking lots adjacent to the ASCC Library on one side and the Multi-Purpose Center on the other, prior to the event. Each graduate is permitted a single vehicle, a limit which will be strictly enforced.

During the degree distribution phase of the ceremony, based on a first-come sequence, they will drive into the central pick-up/ drop-off zone at the front of campus and take the short stairway to a tent set up in the main entrance area. Each graduate will present an identification certificate, and thereafter receive his/her degree or certificate from the ASCC administrators and other dignitaries. ASCC’s Security Division will coordinate the flow of student vehicles as they proceed from the parking lots on either side of the tent.

In view of safety concerns, the prospective graduates have been asked to carefully consider the number of any family members or guests accompanying them in their vehicles.

Families and friends of the graduates are urged to observe the ceremony from the comfort of their home or office, since KVZK-TV will broadcast the event live, and to celebrate the graduates’ achievements afterwards at the off-campus location of their choice. For those who prefer to watch the ceremony online, a webcast will be provided, accessible via a link on the ASCC website (www.amsamoa.edu).

The College considered several different responses to the challenge of holding a graduation ceremony with Code Red restrictions still in place that limit the number of participants at public events.

Having chosen the drive-through option, the ASCC administration presented the plan to both the Board of Higher Education and the COVID-19 Task Force, who gave the proposal official approval.

“This will be the first time ASCC holds an event using these procedures,” said College President Dr. Pato. “We believe we have covered all our bases as far as the organization. While we realize this is an unusual way for the Spring 2022 graduating class to conclude their time with us, we hope the public remember that we hold the safety of everyone involved, especially the students, as our main concern.”

Anyone seeking more information about this Friday’s event can contact the ASCC Division of Student Services by calling 699-2722, and when prompted, entering their extension of 1001.

(Samoa News should point out that the ASCC graduating class of Spring 2022 is seen in their class photo with a very few wearing masks and with no social distancing — ironically their class will have the distinction of being the first-ever to have their commencement as a drive-through due to the territory’s Code Red COVID declaration and the college’s concern for the safety of everyone involved.)