Commencement Set for May 6 in Walker Arena

MCC Trustee Diana Osborn hands a diploma to a smiling MCC student on the Walker Arena stage. Both are wearing their Commencement regalia.

Muskegon Community College’s 87th Commencement exercises will take place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, in the L.C. Walker Arena, where 204 graduating students will participate in the ceremony. The event is free and open to the public.

The MCC student speakers delivering remarks on behalf of the Class of 2015 will be Senelisiwe Nyoni Simpson and Ashley Jagnecki.

Simpson, who was born and raised in the African nation of Zimbabwe, immigrated to the U.S. seeking a better life for her two daughters. Commuting from Holland, Mich., to study at MCC, she will achieve her lifelong dream of become a registered nurse.

Jagnecki, a Muskegon resident, is among the historic first graduating class of the Early College of Muskegon County (ECMC). The ECMC students took both high school and college courses as juniors and seniors before completing a 13th year at MCC to graduate with both a diploma and an associate’s degree. Jagnecki plans a career as an entrepreneur.

Darnell Earley, a 1975 MCC graduate and the 2015 MCC Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient, will address the graduates. In a career dedicated to public administration, Earley has served as city manager of Flint and Saginaw. He is currently the emergency manager of Detroit Public Schools. As past president of the International City/County Management Association, he guided 9,000 members representing 30 nations. He was a Muskegon County administrative assistant and Equal Employment Officer.

MCC President Dale K. Nesbary, Ph.D., will give introductory and closing remarks. The invocation will be provided by MCC Board of Trustee member Rev. Ann Oakes of the Tabernacle Church of God. Board of Trustees Secretary Nancy Frye will offer the welcome.

Social Sciences Department Chair Katherine Tosa, who is retiring after serving MCC for 25 years, will be the mace bearer.

Donald Crandall, M.D., the MCC Board of Trustees chair, will confer the degrees. Director of Nursing Pamela K. Brown will award the nursing pins. Kathleen Bates, the Faculty Association secretary, will announce the Faculty Association Scholarships. Kimberly A. Maguire, vice president of Patient Care Services at Mercy Health Partners, will announce the Hadden Award winners.

Providing music will be the MCC Wind Ensemble directed by Daniel M. Meyers, the MCC College Singers and the Collegiates both directed by Thomas Clark, and the Muskegon Regional Pipes and Drums.