Degrees & Certificates Conferred at 46th Annual Spring Commencement

The 46th annual spring commencement was held at East Central College Saturday morning, May 14.  The class of 2016 included 495 candidates for graduation.

Rob Dixon, president/CEO of the Missouri Community College Association, congratulated the graduates on their achievements.  “You have reached a milestone.  You are done with your time here at ECC, but you are all a long way from being finished with the greater work of your lives,” Dixon said.

Anna Marie Tihen of Washington and Zeke Little of Quincy, Illinois, were named the Outstanding Students for 2016. Anna plans to transfer to Missouri State University where she will be a piano performance manor. Zeke will major in nursing at Quincy University.

“You have to be ready to take advantage of opportunities when they arise, and that’s exactly what you have just done in your time here at East Central,” stated Dixon.  “Your accomplishment today represents the single best thing that you could have done to prepare yourselves for whatever life throws at you next.  Your education here is the key that will unlock the next step, and the next, and the next.  You’ve done it.  But you are not finished.”

“For some of you, you’ll continue your education before heading into the workforce.  For others, you’re ready to get to work now.  And for many of you, I know, finishing your education means one less thing on your plate as you juggle work, home, family, and everything else you do,” he said.  “But we need you all to not be finished. You are a part of something bigger.  Every single one of us has a job to do and a role to play.  Right outside the doors of this room, there are businesses, people, communities that need you.  They need your ideas and they need your talent.”

The commencement processional at East Central College  on Saturday, May 14.

“You are done today, but you are not finished,” noted Dixon.  “Keep sharpening your talents and your skills. Continue your education, whether you do so formally or informally.  There are a lot of issues that affect our communities, our state, and our nation.  I’d submit to you that almost every single one of them can be solved by people like you, people like us.”

A member of ECC’s 2016 graduating class poses for a photo with Franklin the Falcon following the May 14 commencement.

“You have the tools to help us all move forward and address some of the big challenges of our time,” concluded Dixon. “We need you to not be finished.”

Dr. Jon Bauer, president of ECC, conferred associate degrees and certificates upon the graduates.

Members of the college board of trustees awarded the diplomas at the 11:30 a.m. ceremony.