Keynote Speakers Announced for Historic 2026 NSCC Commencement

First class of Early College students to graduate on May 22, at morning event

Lynn, MA (04/07/2026) — North Shore Community College (NSCC) today announced the keynote speakers for its Friday, May 22, 2026 Commencement ceremonies. Dr. Patrick Tutwiler, president and CEO of Walker Therapeutic & Educational Programs and former Massachusetts secretary of education will keynote the morning ceremony honoring Liberal Studies and STEM and Business graduates along with the inaugural graduating class of the Frederick Douglass Collegiate Academy (FDCA). Tom Sands, Market President-North Shore & NHC Board of Trustees, will keynote the afternoon ceremony honoring graduates of Health Professions along with Human Services and Emergency Response Pathways.

For the first time, both ceremonies will take place outdoors under a tent on the Lynn campus, creating a new and expanded setting for the more than 800 degree conferrals this year, a 10% increase over last year, due in large part to the new Free Community College initiative. More than 500 students are expected to attend the ceremonies, 300 of whom are first-generation college students. Of the total graduates, 29 students are U.S. military veterans or family members of veterans.

Commencement Speaker Details

• 10:00 AM Ceremony for Liberal Studies, STEM, and Business graduates: Dr. Patrick Tutwiler, president and CEO of Walker Therapeutic & Educational Programs and former Massachusetts Secretary of Education, will keynote the morning ceremony. Dr. Tutwiler previously served as a senior program officer at the Boston-based Barr Foundation, a grantmaking organization focused on arts, climate, and education. He also served as superintendent of Lynn Public Schools and as a headmaster in Boston Public Schools. As superintendent in Lynn, he led a collaborative, equity-centered effort that increased graduation rates, expanded staff diversity, and helped establish one of the Commonwealth's largest Early College programs.
• 2:00 PM Ceremony for Health Professions, Human Services, and Emergency Response Graduates: Tom Sands, Market President-North Shore & NHC Board of Trustees will keynote the afternoon ceremony. Prior to joining Beth Israel Lahey Health, Sands served as president of Carney Hospital, where he oversaw day-to-day operations. He previously served as chief operating officer at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, where he expanded patient services, increased patient volume, and led initiatives to strengthen the patient and family experience.

"We are honored to welcome two inspiring North Shore leaders, Dr. Patrick Tutwiler and Tom Sands, as keynote speakers for our commencement ceremonies celebrating the achievements of our graduating students. This year is especially meaningful for the College as we celebrate our 60th anniversary, welcome the first Frederick Douglass Collegiate Academy cohort, and host Commencement outdoors to accommodate our growing cohort of graduating students," said NSCC President William A. Heineman. "Along with our very successful Free College program, expanding apprenticeship programs, and strong relationships with employer partners, NSCC continues to grow opportunities that reflect the needs of today and tomorrow for the communities we have proudly served for six decades," he added.

Celebrating the First FDCA Graduates

Part of Lynn Public School District, FDCA is a grade 9-12 Early College high school. FDCA students enroll in NSCC starting in grade 9, providing them the opportunity to graduate with both a Liberal Arts Transfer (LAT) degree and a high school diploma, saving students valuable time and money. Established in the fall of 2022, FDCA became the first state-designated, full four-year early college high school located on a college campus in 2024. In 2026, the school will recognize those FDCA students who are graduating from NSCC with an associate degree.

"NSCC Commencement marks an important milestone for both Lynn public schools and FDCA, as this year marks the fourth year that FDCA has expanded educational opportunities for Lynn students and provided a pathway to higher education," said Heather Fabiano, FDCA principal. "We are incredibly proud of our first class of FDCA graduates and look forward to celebrating their accomplishments at Commencement and beyond."

Event Details

More details on Commencement, including parking and other logistics, can be found at www.northshore.edu/commencement. Livestream links to the two ceremonies will be available on the website on the day of the event, Friday, May 22.

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