Northern Oklahoma Students at all three campuses went through graduation exercises at the 116th Annual Commencement Saturday in Tonkawa and Enid.A total of 536 graduates earned degrees at the two ceremonies.NOC Vice President for Academic Affairs Diana Watkins opened the ceremony, congratulating the students on reaching their goals for graduation and persevering during a pandemic. She also announced students that maintained a 4.0 GPA and those that earned two degrees.She also introduced the Flag Bearers for each academic division.They include the following at NOC Tonkawa: Institutional-Ashton Linton; Agriculture and Biological Science-Bowen Charboneau; Business-Larissa Haagsma; Fine Arts-Zoe Oxford; Health, Physical Education, and Recreation-Jordan Webster; Language Arts-Tori Wood; Josh Hill-Mathematics; Nursing-Savannah Dolezal; and Social Science-Cassidy Edsall.They include the following at NOC Enid: Institutional-Payton Meyer; Agriculture and Biological Science-Jordan Williams; Business-Lauren Crumb; Physical Sciences, and Process Technology-Kaylynn Marr; Health, Physical Education, and Recreation-Ricky Rhodes; Language Arts-Reagan Detrick; Mathematics-Taylor Rainey; Nursing-Leslie Morgan; and Social Science-Adriana Melisa Quezada.President Dr. Clark Harris introduced special guests at the ceremony and then presented the class for the conferring of degrees.The speaker for the ceremony was M. Scott Carter, a NOC Distinguished Alumni.Carter congratulated the students for persevering during the pandemic.“I was in exactly the same place you are 39 years ago,” he said. “It takes bravery and courage to be where you are today. Earning a college degree is challenging under any circumstances but you did it during a pandemic.”Carter spoke of musician Chuck Berry and Bartlesville librarian Ruth Brown who showed bravery and courage in the 1950’s. Berry wrote what at the time were controversial lyrics to the song “Johnny B. Goode” while Brown believed in equality for all who wanted to use library services.“Today, people remember Ruth Brown and Chuck Berry for their courage and bravery but no one remembers their critics,” he said. He also challenged the graduates to make a difference and show bravery and courage in their everyday lives. The NOC Concert Band performed the Armed Forces Salute and the college choir performed Oklahoma Rising.
