MECC Graduation Set for May 12

The 2005-2006 class of Mountain Empire Community College graduates will join together with faculty and staff for the college's annual commencement on Friday, May 12.  The outdoor ceremony will be held on campus at 6 p.m.  Graduation speakers will be students Jason Sturgill and Olga Cardeno Hayes.

Sturgill is graduating Cum Laude and was selected to appear in Who's Who Among America's Junior Colleges.  He has participated in a wide variety of student activities while attending MECC including membership in the Rho Nu Nursing Club; attendance in support of Virginia nurses at Legislative Day 2006 in Richmond; and community work with the Disaster Team of the Wise County Health Department, Mountain Empire Older Citizens, and kindergarten children from Wise Primary School.

Hayes is graduating Summa Cum Laude and was also selected to appear in Who's Who Among America's Junior Colleges.  She served as Student Government Association Vice-President during the 2005-06 academic year.  Hayes is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and was selected as the showcase student for MECC, which entitled her to attend the Virginia Community College System Leadership Conference in November 2005.  She received the Columbus Phipps Scholarship in fall 2005.

Shirley M. Wells, Professor Emeritus, will lead the graduation procession.  Business Management Professor Gary Bumgarner, Welding Instructor Paul Gilley, and Sociology Professor Ken Tucker will serve as faculty marshals for the event. 

More Press Releases