During the 55th Annual Kenai Peninsula College Commencement, held Thursday in the Kenai Central High School auditorium, students — each at their own place in their educational journeys — earned a variety of degrees and certificates.<\/p>\n
The college, Director Cheryl Siemers said during her commencement address, “exists to provide opportunities in education for students in our community and around the state.” While students may have further education they plan to pursue, demanding jobs to step into or other responsibilities to return to, she described commencement as an opportunity to celebrate success.<\/p>\n
“Your path here tonight has been diverse,” she said. “Some of you have balanced work and family. Others have returned to education after years away. You wanted a new direction, a new start. Yet all of you share a common thread, the courage to pursue your goals and the determination to succeed.”<\/p>\n
The students gathered in the auditorium that night — and many who didn’t attend but were honored during the ceremony — came from different backgrounds and were at different places in their educational journeys. Some of the students were claiming their associate degrees, a group that included at least one current high schooler. A large group were earning their GED. Several were earning degrees geared to get them right to work in the oil field or in health care. A few graduated with certificates in teaching Indigenous languages. One was honored for earning his master’s degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.<\/p>\n
“We do hope you’ll make a difference here in Alaska and around the world,” Siemers said. “Thank you, graduates, for finding your place at KPC and for contributing so significantly to all our experiences.”<\/p>\n
Brian Smentkowski, vice president of the University of Alaska, told the graduates that their commencement — regardless of where on their paths they are or what they overcame to get there — “represents your resilience, your drive, the joy you bring to your instructors, the pride you sparked in your loved ones and the changes that you will make in the communities that you are in and will be in for the rest of your lives.”<\/p>\n
“Whatever path you choose, whatever path you follow, you are prepared because you are already a success.”<\/p>\n
Deanne Woodward, vice chancellor of the University of Alaska Anchorage, similarly focused on themes of resilience in her remarks.<\/p>\n
“You sharpened your minds, strengthened your voices, and grown into the kinds of leaders Alaska and the world needs,” she said. “Whether you’re heading into nursing, business, education, the arts or public service, your voice matters. Your presence matters. And your story, well, it’s just beginning.”<\/p>\n
Keynote speaker Libby Roderick, the director of the Difficult Dialogues Initiative at UAA, encouraged the graduates to, regardless of what occupation they end up in, “make the world a good place for current and future generations of people and all living things.” She told them to think critically, listen well and keep learning. She also told them to vote in local elections.<\/p>\n
“Go out and make some great mistakes,” she said. “Learn from them, listen deeply to yourself and to others. Learn something new every day. Help make the world a better place and always remember that you matter — have some fun while you’re at it.”<\/p>\n
For more information, visit kpc.alaska.edu.<\/p>\n
Kenai Peninsula College Degrees Conferred<\/strong><\/p>\n Associate of Arts<\/strong><\/p>\n General Program<\/strong><\/p>\n Xander Z. Amend<\/p>\n Keoni Beddow<\/p>\n Roseann L. Darby<\/p>\n Indyra L.J. Edwards-Smith<\/p>\n Celeste M. Fairbanks<\/p>\n Robert A. Hall<\/p>\n Emily A. Henricksen<\/p>\n Emma L. Hunter<\/p>\n Josirene Q. Nutter<\/p>\n Sandee K. Simons<\/p>\n Ruth A. Suprien<\/p>\n Associate of Science<\/strong><\/p>\n General Science<\/strong><\/p>\n Bethany G. O’Brien<\/p>\n Associate of Applied Science<\/strong><\/p>\n Industrial Process Instrumentation<\/strong><\/p>\n Coy J. Babcock<\/p>\n Kade T. Honey<\/p>\n Dusty Jackson<\/p>\n Thomas J. Krier<\/p>\n Trevor W. Moose<\/p>\n Joseph Reynolds<\/p>\n Paramedical Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n Evelyn J. Jackson<\/p>\n Jillian M. Jurasek-Bayne<\/p>\n Drew T. Skube<\/p>\n Process Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n Ray A. Chumley<\/p>\n Patrick S. Dailey<\/p>\n Austin Desaw<\/p>\n Samking J. Germain<\/p>\n Peter B. Haeussler<\/p>\n Kade T. Honey<\/p>\n Kaylee A. Kirby<\/p>\n Josh A. Koppy<\/p>\n David Kuhn<\/p>\n Vital C. LeFevere<\/p>\n Charles R. Moore IV<\/p>\n Trevor W. Moose<\/p>\n Wesley W. Quade<\/p>\n Ozzy J. Reecamper<\/p>\n Joseph Reynolds<\/p>\n Timothy A. Seaux<\/p>\n Brayden D. VanMeter<\/p>\n Kenai Peninsula College Certificates Conferred<\/strong><\/p>\n Ahtna Language Instruction – Undergraduate Certificate<\/strong><\/p>\n Raedeen E. Neeley<\/p>\n Taliylah D. Patrick<\/p>\n Dena’ina Language Instruction – Undergraduate Certificate<\/strong><\/p>\n Laalêel Kaylee Bearheart<\/p>\n Petroleum Technology – Undergraduate Certificate<\/strong><\/p>\n Kade T. Honey<\/p>\n David Kuhn<\/p>\n Welding Technology – Undergraduate Certificate<\/strong><\/p>\n Robert A. Hall<\/p>\n Paul D. Desjaradin<\/p>\n Bryce G. Michael<\/p>\n Tristan D. Taliesin<\/p>\n Ahtna Language – Occupational Endorsement Certificate<\/strong><\/p>\n Carol V. Cozzen<\/p>\n Conflict Resolution – Occupational Endorsement Certificate<\/strong><\/p>\n Michelle A. Spalding<\/p>\n Conservation Ecology – Occupational Endorsement Certificate<\/strong><\/p>\n Megan Bell<\/p>\n Siobhan Duffy<\/p>\n Madelyn Eisenbeisz<\/p>\n Olivia M. Holdaway<\/p>\n Amiah C. Jared<\/p>\n Javin Schroeder<\/p>\n Prairie R. Sievers<\/p>\n Marine Mammal Biology – Occupational Endorsement Certificate<\/strong><\/p>\n Samantha R. Chalmers<\/p>\n Carleigh Frino<\/p>\n Ansley E. Gibson<\/p>\n Nathanael J. Majors<\/p>\n Lucy Pyne<\/p>\n Justin Rhoads<\/p>\n Javin Schroeder<\/p>\n Grace Vannorwick<\/p>\n Edwin Viramontes<\/p>\n Petroleum Production<\/strong><\/p>\n David Kuhn<\/p>\n Certified Nursing Assistant<\/strong><\/p>\n Hannah Burton<\/p>\n Crystal Collet<\/p>\n Devon Duniphin<\/p>\n McKenzie Flanders<\/p>\n Aidan Gavalis<\/p>\n Corin Granados<\/p>\n Lydia Hopper<\/p>\n Sarah Kitenge<\/p>\n Leah Mortensen<\/p>\n Estrella Palacios<\/p>\n Claire Pellegrom<\/p>\n Kayley Rogers<\/p>\n Madelyn Ross<\/p>\n Debra Rowzee<\/p>\n Mischa Slaughter<\/p>\n Katherine Smith<\/p>\n Jade Stewart<\/p>\n Isabella Tomrdle<\/p>\n Ella Veihdeffer<\/p>\n Amelia Villa<\/p>\n Gabrielle Weiss<\/p>\n Ariel Wheeler<\/p>\n GED Graduates<\/strong><\/p>\n Kimberly Adams<\/p>\n Blaine Asuncion-Tom<\/p>\n Kiril Basargin<\/p>\n Daniel Embre<\/p>\n Selena Hansen<\/p>\n Vincent Harless<\/p>\n Anettia King<\/p>\n Ash McCurdy<\/p>\n Malachi Parry-Newly<\/p>\n Harold Sargeant<\/p>\n Levi Skalisky<\/p>\n Mayson Toms-Moonin<\/p>\n Other University of Alaska Degrees and Certificates Conferred<\/strong><\/p>\n Associate of Applied Science<\/strong><\/p>\n Nursing – UAA<\/strong><\/p>\n Sarah Brueckner<\/p>\n Bailey Buchholz<\/p>\n Tiare C. Chai<\/p>\n Angela M. Deutsch<\/p>\n Alexis H. Giles<\/p>\n Lillian A. Hottmann<\/p>\n April Lund<\/p>\n Samantha J. Stenglein<\/p>\n Radiologic Technology – UAA<\/strong><\/p>\n Kiley R. Hardesty<\/p>\n Associate of Science<\/strong><\/p>\n General Sciences – UAA<\/strong><\/p>\n Noble Cassidy<\/p>\n Bachelor of Arts<\/strong><\/p>\n Biological Sciences – UAF<\/strong><\/p>\n Brandon W. Edwards<\/p>\n Child Development & Family Studies – UAF<\/strong><\/p>\n Tammy L. Grimes<\/p>\n Social Science – UAS<\/strong><\/p>\n Natasha Nicole Sison<\/p>\n Bachelor of Business Administration<\/strong><\/p>\n Business Administration – UAS<\/strong><\/p>\n Cheryl L. Stang<\/p>\n Master of Education<\/strong><\/p>\n Counseling – UAF<\/strong><\/p>\n Quincy D. Fuller<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" KPC graduates congratulated as they head into the next chapter of their lives. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":493,"featured_media":88477,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,811],"tags":[55,56,183],"class_list":["post-88476","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-top-news","tag-kenai","tag-local-news","tag-schools"],"yoast_head":"\n