Class of 2022: Davidson-Davie Community College holds weekday commencement ceremony for graduates
The commencement ceremony at Davidson-Davie Community College was different than other graduations because it was held on a Thursday instead of a Saturday, but it was a perfect reflection of the changes that has occurred at the institution over the past few years.
Not only does the college have a new name, it was the first time they returned to a traditional commencement ceremony following two years of virtual ceremonies due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Circumstances over the past 26 months have challenged our faculty and staff to find new, innovative ways to support student success and deliver instruction,” said Dr. Darrin Hartness, president of the college. “Today, together, we are stronger.”
Davidson-Davie Community College celebrated the accomplishments of 1,178 graduates who earned a collective total of 1,714 credentials, including 629 associate degrees, 191 diplomas, and 848 certificates. Forty-six high school students got a head start on college by pursuing transfer pathways through the Career & College Promise program.
Joshua Barker, president of the student government association, told graduates about being a troublemaker in high school and then being startled to discover that his former high school principal is now an administrator at Davidson-Davie, but that his former principal held no grudges and only wanted the best for him.
“This was the very moment when I realized that our past does not define our future,” Barker shared. “No matter where you are on life’s road, you can always change.”
With his Davidson-Davie credits in hand, Barker heads to UNC-Chapel Hill in August to pursue a degree in finance.
Student awards were also announced during graduation included the Academic Excellence Award, a state-level honor that went to graduate Audrey Glancey, who earned her associate in arts degree.
Graduation scholarships were awarded to Katelynn Innes Mitchell for the Robert Bruce Smith, Jr. Student Success Scholarship; Sarah Brown for the Applied Sciences/Skilled Trades Student Achievement Scholarship; Aryn Gumpert for the Applied Sciences/Skilled Trades Student Achievement Scholarship; Carla Hairston for the Eloise S. Bates Memorial Achievement Scholarship; Erick Contreras for the Betty G. Bunce Memorial Achievement Scholarship; Renee Ultes Hines for the Mountcastle Insurance Student Success Scholarship; Sheila White for the Paula Mathews Turlington Student Success Scholarship; and James Love for the Mary E. Rittling Student Success Scholarship.
General news reporter Sharon Myers can be reached at sharon.myers@the-dispatch.com. Follow her on Twitter @LexDispatchSM.
This article originally appeared on The Dispatch: Davidson-Davie Community College holds weekday commencement ceremony
