Cochise College will hold its 51st commencement ceremony at 7 p.m. May 13 on the Sierra Vista Campus.
Students completing their first and second years of the nursing program will participate in a pinning ceremony at the campus the evening prior.
The ceremony will feature faculty, staff and alumni marshals. Helen Garcia, nursing faculty; Sharon Townsend, director of testing services; and Jeff Sturges (’87), English faculty, will lead the students along with 1977 graduates Javier “Shorty” Fimbres and Elizabeth Patten.
This year, Cochise College will award approximately 1000 diplomas for the current academic year, and about 300 students are expected to participate in commencement ceremonies.
Live online streaming, accessed at www.cochise.edu, will allow friends and relatives to see everything from the processional to the last graduate crossing the stage.
GradImages will photograph all graduates at the commencement ceremony. Graduates should visit www.gradimages.com and click Pre-Event Email Registration to enter their email addresses and up to six emails of loved ones who would like to view and order photos. Students who register their information before commencement on May 13 can get $5 off on orders of $25 or more. After graduation, order online at www.gradimages.com or call (800) 261-2576.
The student speaker at commencement will be Brandon Butterfield. Brandon Butterfield is a 2016 All Arizona Community College Academic First Team Recipient from the Sierra Vista Campus. He has been actively involved on campus as a former Vice President and Secretary for the Sierra Vista Student Government Association, a member of Phi Theta Kappa, an English tutor in the Writing Lab, and President of Literary Guild. Brandon also participates in faith-based service trips to Mexico and is an active member of his youth group. Graduating with an Associate of Arts degree he will be transferring to the University of Arizona majoring in Business.
The pinning ceremony recognizing this year’s nursing class will begin at 7 p.m. May 12 on the Sierra Vista Campus. Almost 200 students will participate, with first-year students recognized for earning certification and second-year students honored for earning their Associate of Applied Science degree, making them eligible to take the exam to become a registered nurse.