Graduation pinning ceremony
By Kara Cline, News Writing Student
Guests piled into the college union as Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services Dr. Marion Paden welcomed students, family and friends to the Graduate Pinning Ceremony the evening of Monday, May 4.
Paden said this is the fourth year Student Life has sponsored the event for graduates of Oklahoma City Community College.
Students lined up to receive their red pins with a gold image of the community wheel in the center and gold letters reading Oklahoma City Community College Alumni.
Service Learning and Student Life Programs Coordinator Katie Treadwell said the community wheel symbolizes interlocking hands of people within the community of the college.
President of OCCC Dr. Paul Sechrist posed for pictures as he shook the graduates hands and handed them their pins.
The packed house listened as Sechrist said accomplishing and completing a degree has never been more important than now with the way the economy is shifting.
Sechrist said, “Sit back, reflect, pat yourself on the back and say job well done!”
He informed the audience that a person who graduates college is more likely to vote, less likely to go to prison and capable of earning a million dollars more in their lifetime than a person who does not receive a degree.
“I recognize many of you have overcome challenges to get to this point,” Sechrist said.
“Some of you thought I’m too old, I’m not smart enough or I’m never going to complete college algebra,” Sechrist said as the audience chuckled and some of the graduates sighed with relief.
The guest speaker OCCC Alumni Association Board Member Melanie Brooks shared stories of her most memorable times as a concurrent student at OCCC.
Brooks said to the graduates, “I hope the memories of this school follow you throughout your life.”
She said she was proud to be an OCCC graduate and congratulated the students on their success.
Brooks also advised students to join the Oklahoma City Community College Alumni Association.
She said it is a great way to keep in touch with fellow classmates and receive information about issues and events related to the college.
According to their web site at www.occc.edu/alumni the OCCC Alumni Association donates one-half of the membership dues for student scholarships at OCCC selected by Alumni Association members.
The members receive benefits such as free use of the college library, the computers in the Communications Lab and the college’s employment and career planning services.
Access to discounts on Cox high speed home Internet service, discount tickets to the Cultural Arts Series and free tickets to the college’s theater performances and free e-mail accounts are also available to members.
The membership fees vary from $30 per year to $500 for a lifetime membership for those who have graduated or completed at least 15 credit hours.
For those students who carry a minimum of six hours during the fall and spring semesters and three hours during the summer semester there is no fee.
Director of Student Life Darin Behara said recent graduates pay a fee of $10.
Behara said graduates had the opportunity to receive a free membership at the pinning ceremony.
He said the ceremony is another way to celebrate the success of our students.
“We remind everyone to join us at commencement, but this gives them a chance to celebrate at another event if they are unable to attend Friday night,” Behara said.
When asked how it feels to be graduating, 2009 graduate of visual arts Jack Gouge said, “It is awesome and it feels good!”
Gouge plans to transfer to the University of Oklahoma to receive his Bachelor of Fine Arts.
Psychology major Tracie Billings said she is relieved to finally be graduating.
“I feel like I finally succeeded and have accomplished something,” Billings said. “I am excited to move forward”
Billings is considering transferring to the University of Oklahoma.
She plans to use her associate degree in psychology to work with elderly patients that have developed Alzheimer’s disease or to counsel women suffering from physical abuse.
Graduation Services Director Barbara Gowdy said about 1100 degrees and certificates would be awarded to OCCC students this year.
