The largest graduating class in the history of North Central Missouri College – 484 students – walked across the stage in the Ketcham Community Center to receive 515 diplomas and certificates during two ceremonies on Saturday.
Mike Thomson, vice president of the Missouri Coordinating Board of Education, delivered the commencement address during the morning ceremony while Steve Schieber, chief executive officer for the critical access region of the Saint Luke’s Health System, was the afternoon speaker.
Morning Ceremony
In his remarks, Thomson talked about the importance of listening and having good communication skills – knowing how to write, speak, express one’s self and be assertive.
“But listening is more than just hearing,” he said. “It includes understanding, comprehending, critical analysis or judgement and it creates a relationship.”
He encouraged students to not only listen to others, but to listen to themselves.
“When you make personal decisions in your life, you normally listen to what your head says and you listen to what your heart says,” he said. “My experience is (that) your head has all the facts and rationale, but your heart is the most interested in your well-being and is the one that puts you in touch with those values that you have developed right here at NCMC, in your families and in your churches.”
Thomson also encouraged students to follow their passions by reaching out and finding opportunities that they may or may not know exist.
“Don’t stifle your passion and your heart,” he said. “Embrace those passions, listen to your heart and you will not be one who looks back at their life with regrets.”
He concluded by asking graduates to “step out of their box” and not be limited by their experiences, their friends and family or their own self-perception.
“Because of the education you have gained here and that which you will continue to acquire as you move on, countless opportunities will be there for you,” he said. “If I had not somehow found my way out of my box, I would not have had the opportunity to serve and help the people of northwest Missouri, to make new friends, to understand how our government works, good and bad. I hope that as you move on that you will listen to those around you, listen to your heart and, by all means, get out of your box. Don’t let your box keep you from following your passions and becoming who you want to be.”
Afternoon Ceremony
Schieber talked about the “sacred calling” with nursing students who received certificates and diplomas during their afternoon ceremony. He referred to the “sacred calling” as caring for an individual “as a person,” addressing their body, mind and spiritual needs in addition to treating their ailment.
“It’s the human element that makes health care what it is – a truly compassionate, caring experience,” he said. “And the best part of that, and sometimes the most challenging part, is there’s no scientific formula; no specific button to click or code to enter.”
Schieber said each graduate will have their own unique perspective to bring to the medical profession, doing the “little things” to make a patient’s experience a positive one. He gave the example of a couple who were patients in the Saint Luke’s system for many years, developing special friendships with the staff over the years. When the husband passed away, a staff member knew that the wife would want to have her hair styled to look her best for her husband’s funeral. So on her day off, she took the woman to have her hair done.
“Such an incredible act of kindness and not something that would ever be expected or even requested as part of her role,” he said. “And yet, she saw a need and she raised her hand. To her, it might have seemed like a small gesture. But to this woman who was grieving her husband, it meant so much…that’s what I mean by a sacred calling. Not something we do for a paycheck or because it’s in our job description, but because it’s who we are. We are called to serve.”
He said that health care is also about human connections and how the “small moments, the caring words make what we do so meaningful.”
“And at the heart of it all is empathy,” he said, quoting Pakistani writer Mohsin Hamid, who said “Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself.”
“This sums up what each of us can do every day, whether it’s for a patient, a colleague or a member of our family,” he said.
Schieber said the one thing that keeps everyone connected is the humanity, kindness and compassion each person shares. He shared a story in which an employee had recognized the struggle a woman was having by trying to handle things that were going on when her husband was in the hospital. When the husband was discharged and the couple left to pick up his medication, the staff member got in her car and drove to their home to make sure the couple had gotten the medication and had arrived home safely. She then made sure they got inside, settled in and checked to see if they needed anything else.
“In doing this, she went above and beyond anything in her job description,” Schieber said. “She saw a need. And she acted. And with that action, which to her just felt like the right thing to do, she left this family with the very clear message that someone cared about them. Someone was thinking about them and they weren’t going through this alone.
“And this is why this is a sacred calling. The people who come into our lives and our workplaces aren’t merely names and faces we see in passing. We’re part of the journey.”
He concluded by asking each graduate how they will be part of the journey of those they meet and what those people will remember about their time with the graduates.
Other Speakers
Speaking at both ceremonies was Student Senate President Jamee Scearce, who compared getting a college degree to making and enjoying a peanut butter and jelly sandwich – choosing the right college, degrees and classes (getting the ingredients for the sandwich), using all the college learning components to be successful as a student (putting together the sandwich ingredients) and graduating (enjoying the sandwich once it is made).
“It’s now time…you can take a bite of your sandwich,” she said. “And today, as we cross the stage and receive our metaphorical/symbolic peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I hope it’s as satisfying and amazing as you thought it might be and I’m so glad to enjoy it with you.”
Dr. John Holcomb gave the alumni welcome, congratulating the class and encouraging them to remember the help they received while at NCMC and to consider “paying it forward” when the time comes to help a future graduate obtain their dream of earning a degree.
Honor Students Recognized
There were 17 students honored for their academic excellence during the Dr. Vicki Wheeler Honors Breakfast held between graduation ceremonies. Each honoree received a plaque in recognition of their achievements.
Honorees included Jonathan Burnfin, AA, Arts and Sciences; Lathan Croy, AAT, Education; Kamron Stephens, AAS, Ag and Natural Resources; Austin Dotson, AAS, Criminal Justice; Brandy Wilson, AAS, Business and Technology; Heather Swymeler, AAS, Computer Science and Information Systems; Derek McClure, AAS, Applied Technology; Angela Kelmel, AAS, Early Childhood; Tatum Griffin-Granville, AAS, Medical Assistant; Stephanie Stotts, AAS, Pharmacy Technician; Mary Lewis, AAS, Dental Hygiene; Madison Mallory, AAS, ADN Nursing-Trenton; Nicole Talbott, AAS, ADN Nursing-Maryville; Jaqueline Tomlinson, AAS, ADN Nursing-Online; Abigail Burns, Certificate, PN Nursing-Trenton; Kristen Holaday, Certificate, PN Nursing-Maryville; and Tanya Farrell, Certificate, PN Nursing-Bethany.