Baltimore County, Md. (May 18, 2026) – Community College of Baltimore County is proud to announce Sanjana Gaddam as the 2026 President's Distinguished Graduate. In recognition of her outstanding academic achievements, leadership and commitment to community engagement, Gaddam will serve as the commencement speaker for the Class of 2026 graduation ceremony, 1:30 p.m., Sunday, May 31 at CCBC Essex.
Gaddam has demonstrated exceptional achievement as a scholar, leader and advocate during her time at CCBC. A member of the Honors College, she has maintained a 4.0 GPA while balancing part-time work, student leadership and independent research focused on social justice.
Gaddam has served as president of the Catonsville Student Honors Council and held leadership roles in student engagement and the Student Alumni Council. Committed to service, she has advocated for the disenfranchised, supported individuals with disabilities and volunteered with local community organizations.
While she has faced various financial and personal hurdles, including navigating mental health challenges, Gaddam has remained steadfast in her pursuit of academic excellence. She has made prioritizing her mental health a daily commitment, demonstrating resilience and self-awareness as she continues to persevere. By openly discussing her mental health struggles, she hopes to fight the stigma surrounding mental health and inspire others to believe they can overcome adversity and succeed.
A testament to her hard work, Gaddam recently received the Benjamin Gilman International Scholarship which will cover expenses while she travels abroad this summer in Belfast, Ireland. She is also a 2026 recipient of the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship which pays up to $55,000 per year for undergraduate studies. This fall, Gaddam will attend Georgetown University to study public policy followed by law school.
In addition to being named the 2026 President's Distinguished Graduate, Gaddam will be honored with a $2,500 transfer scholarship to support her continued education. To hear Gaddam’s speech and watch CCBC’s commencement live on May 31, visit ccbcmd.edu.
Since 1957, CCBC has opened the doors to accessible, affordable, high-quality education empowering generations of area residents to transform their lives and the lives of others. Each year, over 50,000 students enroll at the college’s main campuses, extension centers and online to make their starts, earn degrees, launch and build careers. CCBC offers the region’s most expansive selection of degree, certificate and workplace certification programs that prepare students for transfer, job entry and career advancement in such industries as business, education, health care, information technology, cybersecurity, construction, and transportation. Designated as the “Best Community College” among the Maryland Daily Record’s 2025 Reader Rankings, CCBC is also nationally recognized as a leader in innovative learning strategies and among the nation’s top associate degree producers.
