NMC to confer 120 degrees at Saturday’s graduation rites

The Northern Marianas College is inviting all community members to its 32nd Commencement Exercise, which will take place this Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 4pm, at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

During the ceremony, the college will be conferring 120 associate and bachelor degrees as well as 42 high school and GED diplomas.

“We are extremely proud of our graduates, many of whom have had to overcome significant challenges and obstacles to earn their degrees,” said NMC president Dr. Sharon Y. Hart. “Graduation marks an important milestone in their lives, and we are inviting everyone in the community to join us for this joyous event.”

“And while graduation is an important, momentous occasion to celebrate students’ academic achievements, it also an appropriate time to honor those who have supported them during their educational journeys—family, friends, instructors, staff and loved ones,” added Hart.

In addition to conferring degrees to deserving students, the graduation will also include the formal investiture of Hart as the president of the Northern Marianas College. During this initial portion of the program, the NMC Board of Regents will formally invest Hart with the authority of the Northern Marianas College Office of the President, and the college mace and presidential medallion will be formally presented to her. These two symbols of the office will be formally introduced in this graduation ceremony and will become part of all graduation ceremonies in the future.

Taking into consideration the current economic situation, and the enormity of the planning and human resources needed to organize a separate investiture-inauguration ceremony, Hart chose to proceed with a simple, yet dignified, investiture ceremony that will be tied into the commencement ceremony.

This year’s graduation theme is “Believe,” which was selected by a representative group of the graduating class. Traditionally, this group also selects the keynote speaker and this year the class selected Velma Deleon Guerrero, who is a faculty member and the Liberal Arts program coordinator for the college.

During the ceremony, several awards will be presented, including the leadership award, which will be presented by the governor and lieutenant governor. Academic achievement awards will also be handed to students with the highest grade point averages. [B][I](NMC)[/I][/B]