Evergreen and SPSCC to Celebrate 2019 Graduates at Evergreen

The Evergreen State College and South Puget Sound Community College have a strong tradition of serving local students who earn their associate’s degree at one college and finish four-year degrees at the other. This year, that partnership will take a closer turn, as graduates from both schools will receive their diplomas in separate outdoor ceremonies at Evergreen over June 14 and 15.

Evergreen will honor its class of 2019 graduates in a ceremony on the campus’ central Red Square on Friday, June 14 from 1-4 p.m. The celebration marks its 48th commencement since the institution’s founding.

More than 1,000 Greeners will walk across the stage on Red Square to receive their diplomas during the outdoor ceremony.

“Graduating from college is a significant accomplishment and major milestone in life,” said President George Bridges. “Like so many of our graduating classes, this group of Greeners are inventive, ambitious and excited to get out into the world. They will serve our community, build businesses, and contribute the best of themselves.”

Evergreen alumna Tracy Rector, class of ’04 and a Choctaw and Seminole filmmaker, who has made more than 400 short films featured on Independent Lens, Cannes Film Festival and National Geographic, will be the ceremony’s keynote speaker.

Student undergraduate speakers Carolina Flores and Felicia Ybarra, and graduate speaker Albert McConathy will address their fellow graduates, friends and family.  

The Evergreen Singers and local Olympia band Artesian Rumble Arkestra will also perform. 

SPSCC will hold its commencement celebration at Evergreen the following day, Saturday, June 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. More than 1,400 SPSCC graduates will cross the stage on Red Square.

"We appreciate Evergreen's hospitality and efforts to make sure SPSCC's graduates, along with their families and friends, have a great commencement experience,” said SPSCC President Tim Stokes. “This collaboration highlights the strengths of the higher education community in Thurston County and we look forward to our inaugural celebration on this beautiful campus."

To get visitors on and off campus for the graduation ceremonies with minimal disruption to the community, the Evergreen Parkway will be temporarily closed Friday, June 14, from approximately 3-5 p.m. and Saturday, June 15, from approximately 12-2 p.m.  The temporary closure will be at 17th Ave. northbound, and at Kaiser Road southbound to allow exit from the Evergreen campus at the conclusion of commencement.