OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (May 17, 2024) — Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) 2024 commencement ceremonies will feature filmmaker Brent Ryan Green, Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe and Consul Edurne Pineda as keynote speakers.
More than 1,700 graduates will be honored during three ceremonies (10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.) held in the OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center on Saturday, May 18.
The 10 a.m. ceremony will honor graduates in the Science, Engineering and Math Division and all students earning Associate in Science in Diversified Studies degrees. Brent Ryan Green will be the morning keynote speaker. Green, a filmmaker based in Oklahoma City and Los Angeles, has worked as a director, producer and consultant on more than 70 film and television projects during his 20 years in the industry. His recent projects include the groundbreaking television show “The Chosen,” “Tulsa King,” and “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
The 1 p.m. ceremony, for the Division of Arts, English, and Humanities, includes a keynote address from Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe, humanitarian and subject of the book “Sewing Hope.” Sister Rosemary, a Catholic nun of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, has received a CNN Hero award and the United Nations Impact Award. She was honored as one of “Time” magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2014. Sister Rosemary runs Saint Monica’s Girls Tailoring Center in Gulu, Uganda, a home and school for women and girls whose lives have been shattered by violence, rape and sexual exploitation. Since 2002, she has enrolled more than 5,000 girls who had been abducted and abandoned by their families, giving them ways to support themselves through job training in tailoring, catering and other practical skills to restore dignity, independence and hope.
At 4 p.m., Consul Edurne Pineda will address graduates from the Division of Business and Information Technology and the Division of Social Sciences. Consul Pineda, a Mexican diplomat with a 25-year career and a specialization in consular affairs, is head consul of the Consulate of Mexico in Oklahoma City, which opened in May 2023. The Consulate provides consular services and assistance to the growing Mexican community in Oklahoma of more than 400,000 and promotes government, economic, social, cultural and tourism relations between Mexico and Oklahoma. As part of a dynamic partnership, OCCC operates a Ventanilla de Orientación Educativa (Educational Guidance Window) within the Consulate, providing OCCC with a critical platform to disseminate information about various educational programs and services.
“Oklahoma City Community College graduates are the living embodiment of our college’s mission: Student Success, Community Enrichment,” said Dr. Mautra Staley Jones, president of OCCC. “Our students’ achievements are a testament to their hard work, determination, and enduring commitment to excellence.”
The Health Professions Division at OCCC celebrates its graduates with pinning ceremonies, scheduled in March and May as specific programs culminate.
About Oklahoma City Community College
Since its inception in 1972, Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) has been the heartbeat of the Metro, dedicated to empowering learners and strengthening communities. Serving more than 18,000 students, we are committed to producing leaders. “Student Success, Community Enrichment” is our mission, and we offer more than 87 degree and certificate programs that provide a foundation for further education or immediate career readiness. We remain dedicated to providing accessible, affordable, high-quality education that equips students to achieve personal and professional goals. OCCC is more than an institution; we are a community catalyst, fostering growth and success in our city, our workforce, and the lives of our students. Discover your potential at OCCC, where your future is our purpose.
