NMC Class of 2014: One of the largest in 5 years

The Northern Marianas College expects to graduate one of its largest classes this year.
This will also be the first time that the School of Education will be graduating students with a Bachelor of Science in Education with a concentration in Special Education. This concentration, along with the “Rehabilitation and Human Services” and “Early Childhood Education” concentrations, were introduced about three years ago.

The college disclosed yesterday that it expects to confer associate and bachelor’s degrees to about 171 students, slightly lower than the 180 it graduated last year, which was the biggest graduating class in the last five years.

The associate degree in liberal arts program is expected to have the highest number of graduates this year, with 70 potential graduates. Next with the biggest batch is the bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education concentration, with 24 students.

Other programs have the following potential graduates this year: business, three; accounting, six; business management, eight; computer application, five; criminal justice, seven; hospitality management, five; and natural resource management, six.

The associate degree in nursing program is expected to confer diplomas on 23 students; Early Childhood Education concentration, three; rehabilitation and human services concentration, eight; and special education concentration, three.

“The college is proud of the large number of graduates that will be marking a major milestone in their lives. We are also pleased to be conferring the bachelor’s in education concentration in special education, for the first time,” said NMC president Dr. Sharon Hart. “Many of our graduates have had to overcome significant challenges and obstacles to earn their degrees, and we commend all of them for their commitment and dedication in meeting their educational goals. We hope that other members of the community join us during the commencement ceremony to cheer on the graduates and offer their congratulations.”

The college’s 34th Commencement Exercise will take place on May 24, 2014.

During the ceremony, several academic and achievement awards will be presented.

The 171 potential graduates is preliminary and a final total will be known once grades for the current semester have been posted by the college.