By Jackie Leatherman/MCC Public Information Officer
Mohave Community College’s spring recognition and pinning ceremonies began nearly four weeks ago and will culminate in the 44th annual Commencement Ceremony at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 15 at the Mojave Crossing Event Center and Arena on 101 Aztec Road in Ft. Mohave.
On each of its four campuses, MCC and the MCC Foundation have been recognizing scholarship donors, scholarship recipients, honor students, and outstanding students. The college also held its first pinning ceremonies for its allied health programs. The traditional ceremonies award pins to students to signify their completion of the programs. MCC’s medical assisting students and registered nursing students during received their pins on May 8. MCC will award pins to dental assisting students on Tuesday, May 12, surgical technology students on Thursday, May 14 and dental hygiene students on Friday, May 15.
During the 44th annual Commencement Ceremony, MCC will honor 533 students who have completed or who expect to complete a degree and/or certificate. MCC will be awarding 140 degrees and 26 certificates to Lake Havasu City residents.
“This is always an exciting time of year for the college and its students,” said MCC President Dr. Michael Kearns. “We’re all very proud of the accomplishments of our students and we thank their families for all of their support. We’re proud to have played an important role in their life journey.”
During the ceremony, the college will also honor Don and Kathleen Hodel, of Lake Havasu City, with the Founder’s Award. The college president annually chooses the award’s recipient based on the recipient’s contributions to the success of the college.
The Hodels became active in the Mohave Community College Foundation-Lake Havasu City chapter in 1996. Kathleen Hodel served in officer positions for the boards of the chapter and the overall foundation. In the late 1990s, Kathleen Hodel played a significant role in raising $1.5 million to help construct new classrooms, a bookstore, and a library for the Havasu campus. The library was named after the Hodels in honor of their dedication.
Kathleen also helped to promote Planned Giving, an avenue for bequests to be left in the Foundation’s name, which resulted in $2.5 million being given in trust to MCCF. In 2006, voters elected Kathleen Hodel to serve on the college’s Board of Governors to represent District 3, which encompasses Lake Havasu City. She completed a six-year term in December 2012.
MCC’s 44th annual Commencement Ceremony is also expected to award degrees to 19 Lake Havasu High School students. Also, Kristi Grasser, an MCC alumnus from the Kingman campus, has been chosen as the ceremony’s guest speaker and Beatriz Mendoza, a graduating student from the Bullhead City campus, has been chosen as the ceremony’s student speaker.
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