East Central College celebrated the accomplishments of more than 600 students who completed degrees and certificate programs over the past two years.

The classes of 2020 and 2021 were recognized for their hard work, determination, and perseverance during unprecedented times during five commencement ceremonies held May 15-16.

There were 315 degrees and certificates awarded to members of the Class of 2021, in addition to the 342 degrees and certificates awarded to the Class of 2020.

ECC President Dr. Jon Bauer described graduation as “pay day” for everyone involved in helping students to the finish line.

“This is the day you, the graduates, have worked hard to attain and this is the day your family and friends have waited for, just as much as you have,” he said.

In order to promote a safe environment for graduates, their families and friends, and college employees, there were seven ceremonies held. That includes the Adult Education and Literacy graduation on May 13, a Nursing Program pinning ceremony May 15, and five commencement exercises for graduates.

“We wanted to be sure that each graduate could celebrate with guests and we wanted to make sure this important milestone took place right here on campus where the work that brought you to this day took place,” Dr. Bauer said.

“These are individuals fulfilling their dreams, taking the next step and coming here today as a result of their talent, hard work, determination, support they received, and never-quit attitude.”

During the ceremonies, Dr. Bauer introduced guest speakers Emily Rau, an Emmy-award winning broadcast journalist and public relation specialist with Ameren Missouri; and Richard Schwentker, a retired Washington High School science teacher and a 1971 ECC graduate.

Emily Rau

Rau spoked at the May 15 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. graduation ceremonies. She was enrolled in dual credit classes at ECC while she attended WHS.

Rau went to the University of Missouri-Columbia after graduating from WHS in 2006. She graduated from the Missouri School of Journalism in 2010. She is a fourth-generation Mizzou Tiger.

In 2015, Rau was named a co-anchor on KMOV’s News 4 This Morning. She left KMOV in the spring of 2017 to freelance for ABC News in New York City and Washington, D.C.

Rau’s message to graduates was, in part, to take the experience and wisdom of attending college during the COVID-19 pandemic and harness the resilience in the future.

“Here we are in caps and gowns, with your family in the stands and your whole life right out in front of you,” she said. “And in addition to the coursework and experiences, you have the lessons of the pandemic that you will carry with you forever.”

“The challenges of this last year come with a gift if you let them,” Rau added.

“You don’t have to move on from here with some grand plan you or someone else dreamed up for your life. You won’t be making your way in the world, wondering what happens when life gets in the way. Because you already know.”

Rau is a two-time Emmy winner, and received the Best Anchor award from the Missouri Broadcasters Association. She was one of Gazelle Magazine’s “Top 50 Women in St. Louis.”

She is the daughter of Dr. Michael and Andrea Rau, Washington. In 2019, she married Mike Colombo, a consumer reporter and anchor with Fox 2 and KPLR 11. They live in St. Louis and visit Franklin County often.

During the commencement address, Rau recalled a story about an opportunity to ask former President Donald Trump a question in the Oval Office.

“That day will forever be a highlight of my career. But I am not exaggerating when I say that there’s no way I would have ended up in the Oval Office in Washington, D.C. without the foundation that started in Washington, Missouri,” she said.

“That diploma soon to be in your hands, this community that is forever in your bones — they can take you anywhere you want to go.”

Richard Schwentker

Schwentker graduated from New Haven High School in 1969 and then received an Associate of Arts from ECC in 1971. He was part of the first commencement held on the ECC campus in 1971.

He later obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics from the University of Missouri-Rolla (Missouri S&T) in 1973.

Schwentker recounted the growing movement of community colleges and his time at ECC, then called East Central Junior College (ECJC), while speaking to graduates.

“For us 1969 high school graduates, it was our great fortune, that ECJC would come on line the very next year after we graduated,” he said.

“I remember my mother, after reading about the article in our newspaper and talking to other parents at a PTA meeting, suggested to me that I should consider attending this new junior college in Union,” Schwentker added.

“Upon graduating, and having been offered a scholarship to ECJC, I enrolled and many of my classmates and students from many surrounding communities also enrolled. We formed carpools, and we started classes.”

He added that his graduating class and the 2021 graduating class mark “bookends” of 50 years of commencement ceremonies at the College.

“I marvel at how ECC changed my life, allowing me to spend my entire career of 33 years as a teacher in Missouri Schools” Schwentker commented. “I graduated in a class of 106 and many of these graduates, I suspect, have a story similar to mine. Fifty years of ECC outputting graduation classes translates to 18,608 degrees and certificates granted, including this year’s graduating class, whose lives have been impacted.”

“I doubt if you can point to any other entity that has had more effect as ECC for our region,” he added. “I am happy to have been a part of the ECC/ECJC legacy. I am happy for you that you are ready to move on with the next phase of your life.”

After attending the University of Missouri-Rolla, Schwentker went on to obtain teaching certificates from the University of Missouri- Columbia (math) and the University of Missouri-Kansas City (physical science). In 1994, he obtained a master’s degree in education from Maryville University in St. Louis.