Parkland College 2021 Virtual Commencement, May 13

Parkland College to hold Virtual Commencement on Thursday, May 13 at 7 pm

Mazdack Rassi, co-founder and creative director of Milk Studios and co-founder of Milk Makeup, will deliver the keynote address during Parkland College's 2021 Virtual Commencement Exercises, Thursday, May 13, at 7 p.m. via YouTube. The public is invited to visit Parkland's commencement page for a link to attend the ceremony. 

In his time as co-founder of Milk, Rassi has built the bi-coastal business into a culturally conscious company with creative expression at the helm. Rassi's leadership has transformed Milk from a services company into the home of emerging artists in New York and Los Angeles alike.

With an understanding of the fashion, music, photography, media, and film industries, Rassi drives all business operations for Milk and has become a creative partner to global visionaries, designers, and brands throughout the last two decades. He has steered the company through years of productions, gallery openings, Fashion Weeks, events, and cultural happenings. In 2016, he worked with his team to launch a consumer product made for Milk's community: Milk Makeup.

In addition to managing Milk, Rassi is an active board member of Burton, Autism Tomorrow, Parsons School of Design, and The New York City Ballet.

Parkland College's 54th Commencement will include a welcome from college President Thomas Ramage and Board of Trustees Chair Bianca Green. Retired professor John Moore will deliver the faculty address while Nancy Sutton, vice president for academic services, will present student awards, segments which typically occur during Parkland's annual Honors Convocation.

Student presenters for the virtual ceremony will be speaker Anthony Fisher and tassel turner Daniel K. Sheff. Fisher, a native of Jamaica, is a photojournalist at WCIA 3 News and a freelance videographer. He is the founder of A1 VIDEOPRODUCTION and will be receiving his Associate in Applied Science in Media Arts and Production from Parkland.

Sheff, a lifelong resident of Illinois, is pursuing a degree in social work after two decades in the retail and restaurant industries. He is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and plans to transfer to the University of Illinois School of Social Work to pursue advanced degrees.

The ceremony will also feature music selections by the Parkland College Wind Ensemble and an invocation and benediction by the Rev. Heidi M. Weatherford of McKinley Church in Champaign.