By Lookout Staff

June 5, 2012 -- The families of Santa Monica College students will be able to watch next week's graduation ceremonies live from the comfort of their homes all over the world.

For the third year in a row, Santa Monica College’s Commencement Exercises, which will be held at Corsair Field Tuesday at 6 p.m., will be webcast live and available on the SMC Alumni webpage.

“The SMC community has welcomed students from down the street, across the country and all over the world,” said Dr. Barbara K. Ige, assistant director of campus and alumni relations, “and we will always be here to welcome them home.

”Families and friends from all over the world who will not be able to attend graduation will again be able to watch the ceremony and see the graduates receive their diplomas.

About 550 graduates are expected to attend the ceremonies, which will feature Dr. James M. Rosser, president of California State University, Los Angeles as commencement speaker.

The SMC Foundation also will present its Distinguished Alumni Award to Gilda Clift Breland, an attorney who has won numerous awards for her community service and professional accomplishments.

"Through the Alumni webpage, graduates will also be able to watch videos and read and post comments," college officials said.

Graduates and SMC friends are encouraged to “like” the Alumni Association’s Facebook fan page and upload their graduation photos, officials said. They also can tag their pictures to Flickr or Twitter with #smcgrad12 that will be published on the Association’s website.

After the ceremonies, the Alumni Association will host a reception on the Quad, with free hors d’oeuvres, beverages and two photo booths where pictures will be taken and uploaded on the Alumni website.

A compilation video will be available on the website about a week after graduation, officials said.