North Central Michigan College celebrates 2023 commencement
PETOSKEY — Petoskey Plastics Arena was filled with proud family members and friends on Friday, May 5 as North Central Michigan College celebrated its Class of 2023.
Earlier in the day, the college had also hosted the traditional nurse pinning ceremony for graduates of the student nursing program. In total, 25 student-nurses received their pins.
The graduating class included the awarding of 230 associate degrees, seven certificates of development and 19 certificates.
According to college president David Roland Finley, 68 percent of the graduates plan to transfer to a four-year institution. Seven of the students were graduating with a family member and 32 percent are the first in their family to earn a degree or certificate.
“That’s a big deal,” he said.
“All these graduates have exhibited intelligence, resilience, drive, focus and teamwork in getting to this day,” Finley added. “And we are pleased to call them Timberwolves. We’re extremely proud of this year’s pack.”
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The keynote speaker for this year’s commencement was U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow. Stabenow, who has announced that she will not seek re-election and will retire from the Senate when her term ends in January 2025, likened her experiences to the new graduates’, as she is also embarking on a new chapter in her life.
“It’s never too early or too late to think about your legacy,” Stabenow advised the graduates. “What do you want yours to be? One thing I do know, is that if we all are willing to take a few risks, if we’re willing to stay true to our core values and do what we can to make a difference, Michigan and our country will be a better place.”
Both the nurse pinning and the commencement ceremony were live streamed and are available to view at ncmich.edu/community-events/commencement.
— Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: NCMC celebrates 2023 commencement
