- More than several hundred students walked for graduation.
- Graduation commencement took place May 18 at the Cox Convention Center.
Graduates take first step to the rest of their lives
By Katie Jones, News Writing Student
Several hundred OCCC spring graduates took the stage and their first steps to the future May 18.
Families and friends filled the Cox Convention Center in anticipation of watching their graduate walk across the stage.
Nancy Butler, the aunt of graduate Sarah Butler, said the family is proud of Sarah’s accomplishments.
“I can remember when she was just a little girl,” Nancy said. “Now she’s graduating and we are so very proud of her. This is an amazing accomplishment.”
The graduates were dressed in traditional com-mencement robes and caps. The graduates also wore centennial medallions to commemorate Oklahoma’s 100-year anniversary of statehood.
Melinda Stapleton, business graduate, praised OCCC for its warm atmosphere.
“I liked how [OCCC] had small classes and everyone was always friendly,” Stapleton said.
Stapleton said she plans to continue her education next year at the University of Oklahoma, majoring in accounting.
Electronics graduate Jorge Wberth-Avila said he’s eager to try his skills in the workplace. Wberth-Avila plans to begin his practical training at the global oil and gas company Haliburton.
The stage was set with colorful flowers and flags from all over the world. The international flags represented the hundreds of students who traveled from more than sixty countries to attend OCCC.
OCCC President Paul Sechrist said commencement is a time of celebration.
“The commencement exercises are a time when we come together to celebrate the achievement of our students,” he said. “It is also a collective recognition of why we exist as a college.”
Bob Blackburn, Oklahoma Historical Society executive director, gave this year’s commencement address.
Blackburn spoke of Oklahoma’s centennial celebration and two individuals who paved their way into Oklahoma’s history — Anton Classen and Roscoe Dungee.
“Both of these Oklahomans were once your age … and faced with challenges and doubts,” Blackburn told the graduates. “As you go on, think of this question — how will history describe your decisions?”
