Mitchell Community College will honor 567 graduates of associate degree, diploma and certificate programs during the annual commencement exercises planned for Friday, May 15, at 7 p.m. on the Circle of the Statesville Campus. Dr. James T. Brewer, Mitchell president, will preside.
Dr. Jerry Sue Thornton, CEO of Dream/Catcher Educational Consulting Service and President Emeritus of Cuyahoga Community College, will deliver the graduation address. During Thornton’s tenure, Cuyahoga earned a reputation as a leader in educational innovation, workforce training and economic development. In her current role with Dream/Catcher, Thornton coaches and provides professional development for new college and university presidents.
Dr. Thornton began her higher education career as an English faculty member at Triton College in Illinois. In 1985, she became president of Lakewood Community College in Minnesota and continued in that role until she was named president of Cuyahoga in 1992. Her leadership activities include working internationally to help develop the community college concept in the Netherlands, China, United Kingdom, Jordan and Qatar. In 2011, Dr. Thornton was appointed co-chair of the 21st Century Commission on the Future of Community Colleges, a national task force convened by the American Association of Community Colleges.
Additional ceremonies honoring Mitchell graduates include:
Wednesday, May 13 – Nursing Pinning Ceremony – 7 p.m. on the Circle (500 W. Broad St., Statesville)
Thursday, May 14 – High School Equivalency Diploma Graduation (formerly GED) – 7 p.m. in Shearer Hall (500 W. Broad St., Statesville)
Friday, May 15 – Visual and Performing Arts (VPAC) Early College High School Graduation – 12:30 p.m. in Mac Gray Auditorium on the campus of Statesville High School (474 N Center St., Statesville)
Thursday, May 21 – CNA Pinning Ceremony – 7 p.m. in Shearer Hall (500 W. Broad St., Statesville)
Friday, May 29 – Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy (BLET) Graduation – 6 p.m. in the Continuing Education Center Auditorium (701 W. Front St., Statesville)