OCC Holds 45th Graduation Ceremony Friday

More than 2,500 students graduated from Oakland Community College Friday, June 10. An audience estimated at 5,000, including the 900 graduates who attended the event, family members, guests, trustees of the college, faculty and staff members took part in OCC’s 45th commencement ceremonies at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

One thousand and fifteen graduates, approximately half of the class of 2011, earned university transfer degrees in business, liberal arts and science. Another 1,010 earned Associate of Applied Science degrees. Known as “career degrees,” these diplomas provide graduates with entry-level credentials in a range of 160 professions including accounting, the culinary arts, robotics and nursing.

The balance of the graduating class received Associate Degrees in General Studies, as well as one-year certificates and certificates of achievement in fields such as computer information systems, environmental systems technology and medical assisting.

OCC Chancellor Tim Meyer introduced OCC’s Distinguished Alumna for 2011, Huron Valley Schools Superintendent Jacqueline Johnston, class of 1985 (summa
cum laude), who stated that the higher education path she began at OCC prepared her well for the subsequent bachelor’s and master’s degrees earned at Walsh College and Eastern Michigan University, as well as for the doctoral program she begins this fall.

This year’s commencement speaker was David O. Egner. Executive director of the New Economy Initiative, a non-profit organization that works to accelerate the transition to an innovation-based economy in the seven counties of southeast Michigan.

In his address , Egner offered a number of suggestions to the class of 2011 drawn from his own life experience working on quality of life issues. Among these were the injunctions to be a life-long learner, and to define yourself by how you use your discretionary time – by maintaining ties with family, friends, church and philanthropic organizations, which, he said, “are as important as your work.”

Egner urged the graduates to learn from their failures and mistakes “because success offers few learning opportunities.” He also called upon them to celebrate being from Detroit.

With five campuses located throughout Oakland County, OCC is the largest of Michigan’s 28 community colleges and the 25th largest in the nation. OCC offers
degrees and certificates in more than 160 fields including university transfer and general studies degrees.