Over 100 receive degrees at TCCC
Thunderstorm doesn't darken ceremony
By Dwight Otwell Editor

Tri-County Community College faculty member Joan Ledford is bombarded with silly stirng by some of her students after graduation Friday. Only a class favorite is treated this way. Over 100 students received degrees. Although a thunderstorm raged outside and cut power for half a minute, the rain had passed by the time commencement exercises were completed.

The lights went out and the microphones became silent just as the first of about 105 students began their ceremonial final walks to get their degrees.

A thunderstorm raged outside but Tri-County Community College (TCCC) graduates had sunny smiles as they celebrated their hard work at the commencement exercises for the Class of 2007. The power was out for only a few seconds and the graduates began the process of being publicly awarded their degrees.

Jannette Hanson, who attended the TCCC Graham County campus, was one of two student speakers. She said she didn't think she could even get a GED degree when she began at the Graham campus in 2003. Friday, she graduated from TCCC with two degrees.

"At TCCC I not only achieved my goal of a college education but a goal of another family," Hanson said.

The other student speaker was Cassie McDonald, who attended the TCCC Murphy campus.

"If we can learn from our mistakes, we will continue to evolve," McDonald said. "At TCCC we get a second chance to add to the building blocks of life. Our marks won't be measured by how much money we make but how we treat those around us."

Larry Kernea, chairman of the TCCC Board of Trustees, said, "We are only pausing to celebrate. I ask each graduate to go forward and give back to the community."

Carroll Kitchens was one of the oldest graduates at age 61. He received a degree in Business Administration. Kitchens said two plants he worked for shut down, including Baker Furniture. So he went back to school to learn "something else".

James McLean, of Andrews, graduated in Automotive Systems Technology. He hopes to eventually own his own shop.

Bob Williams, of Clay County, earned his Bachelor's Degree years ago. But he wanted to get into another field. He received a degree in Computer Information Technology. He is already working at TCCC as Backup System Administrator.

"The two-year degree here was more demanding than my four-year degree," Williams said.

Amy Johnson and Ronnie Whitener received Faculty Excellence Awards.