NCMC Commencement and Honors Brunch Held

North Central Missouri College 2025 Commencement was held on May 10, 2025, with two ceremonies: the morning ceremony at 9:00 a.m., honoring all associate degrees and certificates that are non-nursing, and the afternoon ceremony at 1:00 p.m., honoring nursing certificates, degrees, and pinnings. Both commencement ceremonies were held at the Ketcham Community Center on the Main campus located in Trenton, Missouri. Commencement was also live-streamed at piratesdigitialmedia.com.

2025 Commencement broke a college record with 565 degrees and certificates awarded, the highest in the history of NCMC. NCMC had 565 degrees and certificates awarded to 474 individual graduates. 125 associate in arts, 36 associate in arts in teaching, 214 associate in applied science, eight associate in general studies, nine associate in science, and 173 certificates. The average age of the graduates was 24.5, with the oldest graduate being 58 and the youngest 18. Graduates came from Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, and Texas, as well as from Cameroon, Curacao, the Dominican Republic, Japan, Panama, and Venezuela.

Mike Arbuckle, Senior Advisor to the Royals General Manager, and Joe Abrutz, Hospital Administrator at Cameron Regional Medical Center, gave the commencement addresses. Mike Arbuckle spoke at the 9:00 a.m. morning ceremony, and Joe Abrutz spoke at the 1:00 p.m. afternoon ceremony. Faculty Senate President Dr. Sterling Recker led the processional, and the Army National Guard 548^th Transportation Company presented the colors. Faculty Marshalls were Maryellen Harman, Amy Guthrie, Janna Ingram, Jack Green, Korynn Skipper, Vel Westbrook, Abigail Bilby, and Shanna Nichols. NCMC student Sarabeth Michael sang the national anthem for the morning and afternoon ceremonies. Cole Henderson, Student Senate President, provided the welcome and evocation for both ceremonies. Dr. Tristan Londre, Vice President of Academic Affairs, presented the class, and Dr. Lenny Klaver, President, conferred the degrees. President Klaver, with President of the Board of Trustees, presented degrees and honors, with Dr. Kristen Alley, Vice President of Student Affairs, giving the turning of the tassel. Chris Hoffman, trustee and alumnus, provided the alumni with a welcome.

Also, on Saturday, the Vicki Wheeler Honors brunch was held, recognizing twenty-three NCMC graduates for their accomplishments. The NCMC Outstanding Student Award is given annually to only one student in each degree program. The faculty selects students based on academic merits, campus involvement, and leadership in the classroom.

Honored Students

The NCMC Honors Brunch is named after the late Vicki Wheeler, a longtime NCMC faculty member.

Photo: Mike Arbuckle, Joe Abrutz, and Honor Graduates. NCMC graduates were honored in their program for their academic merits, involvement, and leadership in the classroom at the annual Honors brunch.