Five Towns College officially opened the 2026-27 academic year on Sept. 10 with its 53rd Convocation, celebrating students, faculty, and the college community. College President Dr. David Cohen described the occasion as “a day that we celebrate students.”
The festivities began with a ceremony in the Performing Arts Center featuring speeches from campus faculty and student performances.
Among the speakers was College Provost Dr. Marsha Pollard, who reminded students they don’t need to have everything figured out as they begin the new academic year. “It’s okay to not have everything figured out right now,” she said, later adding, “Remember that success is not about being perfect.”
Another speaker was Assistant Dean for Campus Life Michael Cavalli, who, as he has in previous years, encouraged students to “show up” for activities, classes, their friends, and most importantly themselves.
This year’s Grand Marshal was Interactive Media Arts Division Chair Sharon Ryba-Pertz. “Over the past eight years, I have learned so much from this community while having the privilege of teaching and guiding students across Mass Communication, Interactive Media Arts, Film/TV, Business, and Theatre,” she said. “As I begin my ninth year at FTC, I can honestly say that I have always been made to feel like part of the Five Towns family. It is incredibly meaningful to be recognized by a College that has given me so many opportunities to grow as both an educator and a leader, and I am very proud to represent our faculty and academic community as Grand Marshal.”
As part of its annual Convocation tradition, FTC presented an honorary doctorate this year to Roger Earl, an English drummer best known as a member of the rock band Foghat. During his speech, Earl’s love of music shone through as he told the audience that “we live in the land of music.”
Music was also a major part of the ceremony’s performances. Musical performance student Benjamin Cohen performed a guitar rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner, with the Five Towns College Tribute Band performing Foghat’s “Slow Ride” and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird.” Theater Arts students also presented readings of the poems “America, the Beautiful” by Katharine Lee Bates, read by Frank Seitz, and “One” by Cheryl Sawyer, read by Charles Houser.
The performances were met with several standing ovations from attendees, with “Free Bird” becoming a particular highlight thanks to a guitar solo from Music Performance major Jude Bertino.
“I feel good,” Bertino said after the performance. “I got the honor to play in front of Roger Earl. Like, that’s crazy. And, you know, [Dr. David] Cohen was right; I don’t think any college has ever done, or is currently doing, “Free Bird” at their opening ceremony. I don’t know, that was like the most patriotic thing ever. I feel like I got possessed by the ghost of every founding father. That was awesome.”
After the ceremony, students, faculty, and staff gathered for a barbecue in the courtyard put on by FTC food services with burgers, hot dogs, sides, and sodas available for everyone to enjoy.
“Yeah, it’s really delectable. I had a hot dog, a hamburger, with all the works, and I’m probably gonna get a second round,” said Greg Patane, a Mass Communication student.
For many students, including Acting major Evicka Ottati, this was their first Convocation. “I thought it was really fun. I really liked how it wasn’t just like, oh, you sit there, and then people come up and talk to you. I liked how it was a performance,” she said.
Welcome to the Celebrity Remix.
The day’s festivities continued into the evening as FTC campus events hosted a “Celebrity Remix” party, where students were encouraged to dress up as their favorite celebrities. The party was held in the gym and featured food, decorations, and a DJ.
“I thought the party was so fun. I loved how much food there was and how much everyone enjoyed themselves; it was so fun seeing the DJ there,” said Audio student Shaun Berry, who attended dressed as Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong.
For students and faculty alike, Convocation served as more than the opening of another academic year. It reminded everyone that Five Towns College is not simply a collection of different departments, but one community brought together by the people who make up the college.
As Dr. Pollard put it, the campus is filled with “energy, ambition, and untapped potential.”
