National Park College held spring commencement ceremonies May 13 at Bank of the Ozarks Arena to present 408 degrees and certificates earned by students during the 2016-17 academic year.
The Hot Springs Concert Band performed the processional, "Pomp and Circumstance," and the national anthem. The Hot Springs High School Navy Junior ROTC Color Guard presented the presentation of colors.
The Rev. Gregory Nettles, senior pastor of Visitors Chapel AME Church, gave the invocation. NPC President John Hogan addressed the graduates and the NPC Choral Department provided special music.
Howard Cheresnick, president of the college's Alpha Beta Psi chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, was awarded the Thomas and Rachel Spencer Spirit of NPC Award, which was established by former NPC President Tom Spencer in honor of his parents. The award is presented to a graduate who best exemplifies academic achievement, contribution to the spirit of the college and personal advancement.
Cheresnick is a member of the Cultural Diversity Club and is a founder of the peer-to-peer mentor program. He plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in special education at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia and currently works as a paraprofessional for the Lake Hamilton School District, where he is also a soccer coach. Cheresnick is also a board member of the Hot Springs Soccer Association.
Second-year education student Lorena Fitzpatrick was recognized for the Academic All-Star Award. The Arkansas Community Colleges Academic All-Star program provides scholarships to students from each two-year college in the state in recognition of their scholarly and service achievements.
Fitzpatrick said she plans to transfer to Henderson to obtain a bachelor's in education. She said her dream of becoming an educator was born out of the positive influence of her first-grade teacher in a small town in southern Mexico. She is currently a full-time student and balances her studies with maintaining a family and job.
"I am living proof of the American dream," Fitzpatrick said. "Success can be achieved if one works hard, never gives up and treats all with dignity and respect. I want to give back not only to the community where I live, but also to America. This great country gave me an opportunity to provide for my family."
NPC recognized students who earned associate's degrees, certificates of proficiency and technical certificates.
Students who received associate's degrees were:
Amity
Rebecca Prince.
Arkadelphia
Kamesha Cannady, Pamela Harvey Dunlap.
Benton
Denise Bettis, Lindsay Leggett.
Bismarck
Nataly Velazquez, James Winters.
Bonnerdale
Barbara Bates, Shasta Carter, Kaitlyne Fernandez, Seth Lucas, Kelley Ryals, Kristin Willet.
Bryant
Brandie Bryant, Bobby Goodin.
Caddo Gap
Brittany Vann, Crystal Cogburn.
Glenwood
Melissa Brown, Jalyn Moore, Edgar Valdez.
Hot Springs
Ana Alegria, Nikki Allen, Joseph Arduengo, Theresa Bland, Ruby Brawner, Walter Bukowski, Angela Burris, Emily Cahanin, Gervante Campbell, Matthew Cheatham, Tylor Clark, Cassidy Conrad, Dana Cotroneo, Raymond Cox, Jennalyn Devers, Veronica Diaz, Allyson Dunbar, Taylor Duncan, Alison Dye, Rebecca Echols, Jennifer Edwards, Tiffany Ely, Jennifer Farner, Christopher Frazee, Yvonne Frias, Amanda Friedl, Oralia Garcia, Garrett Garner, Rachel Garner, Kelly Green, Ashley Guinn, James Hardister, Spencer Hecke, Jacob Hefley, Angie Hoaglin, Hannah Hollingsworth, Bailey Hughes, Oscar Ibanez, Alexis Jessup, Aaron Johnson, Jonathan Johnson, Kayla Johnston, Chandler Jordan, Katie Keesee, Julie Kern, Melissa Krafft, Amanda Lambright, Lindsey Jack, Nastassja Lowry, Dalton Loy, Benjamond Lynch, Ashley Markowski, Stephanie Martin, Samantha McCarroll, Alyssa McDonald, Le Anne Mitchell, Brooksie Morales, Desaray Moshier, Shelby Mullins, Alice Muritu, Aundrea Nichols, Destinye O'Brien, Heather Offutt, Amber Orrell, Rachel Otwell, Chandler Overton, Blake Patterson, Dylan Patton, Keanna Peck, Nicole Pedlar, Erica Peppers, Robin Phillips, Malory Pratt, Ines Ramirez, Chris Robertson, Cytlaly Rodriguez, Bryan Rosburg, Jessica Russell, Jason Sangster, Holly Sauders, Tasha Sears, Brittnie Sexton, Kalyn Sharp, Rayna Southern, Jerrica Speed, Caitlan Spoon, Lauren Stewart, Mason Tabor, Colton Terry, Klovis Tucker, Britan Upton, Jeremy Vaughn, Caleb Vermeer, Tyler Vestal, Kmitra Vigers, Blanca Villatoro, Kayla Walker, Julian Watson, Stevie Wells, David Wilkie, Brittney Williams, Jamie Williams, Stephanie Wright, Danielle Wynn, Lauren Wynn.
Hot Springs Village
Associate Degree: Jennalyn Devers, Jennalyn Devers, Deanne Hutchens, Karen Jeffress, Karly Kroening, Jacqueline Rusheon, Miguel Soria, Holly Staggs, Felicity White, Christina Williams.
Jacksonville
Germaine Swinton.
Jessieville
Sheena Burrow, Scotti Gerhardt.
Lonsdale
Hannah Brock, Jessica Robertson.
Malvern
Dustin Moore.
Mountain Pine
Joseph Baker, Janet Bradley, Jennifer Ingoglia, Sherri Perry, Tyler Robertson.
Norman
Kathryn Powell.
North Little Rock
Angelica Dickson.
Pearcy
Joeli Bradley, Caroline Breshears, Nathan Calcagno, Howard Cheresnick, Traci Duke, Ashlee Fason.
Piney
Ian Crowell.
Poughkeepsie
Katherine Praught.
Royal
Marissa Anaya, Tyler Baxter, Kaycie Bullion, Christopher Caldwell, Katie Carpenter.
Those who earned certificates of proficiency were:
Bismarck
Trent Allen, Nathan Evans.
Bonnerdale
Kayla Torbett, Audrey Williams.
Bryant
Chantelle Myers.
Fort Smith
James Edmiston.
Glenwood
Michael Ledesma, Zachary Markham, Christian Parker, Joshua Zamorano.
Hot Springs
Ana Alegria, Helen Bahena, Araceli Barajas, Tanner Bates, Paige Baxter, Kaitlyn Blackstone, Kentaveon Blevins, Victoria Brenneman, Garrett Carriger, Marshall Carter, Katelyn Charles, Jaden Childers, Katelynn Cone, Gregory Craig, Sydney Crawford, Jeremiah Davies, Anthony Davis, Jamie Durfee, Jerimiah Elliott, Tiffany Epperson, Joshua Fitzgerald, Lonzo Ford, James Gist, Jeffrey Hamrick, James Hardister, Miller Harwell, Kimberly Haufe, Mitchell Haus, Hawes Heard, Kierra Hildreth, Caleb Holstine, Cole Howard, Jacob Howard, Michael Hulse, Alexis Jaeger, Dakota Jensen, Christian Johns, Jennifer Johnson, Randall King, Barbara Laxson, Michael Lewis, Tiffany Lloyd, Daryl Lunceford, Dan Martin, Matthew Matheson, Nichkolas Mull, Caleb Nance, Reuben Palmer, Grace Payne, Alexander Peck, Tina Pickens, Damon Prince, Mackenzie Reed, Kenneth Robison, Megan Schock, Tyler Sconyers, Jensen Sledd, Micheal Sparks, Steven Tauth, Angelia Taylor, Courtney Tran, Joe True, Gabrielle Walker, Nickolas Wheeler.
Hot Springs Village
Jon Altimus, Evan Murphy.
Jessieville
Joshua Herron, Jonathan Miles, Joseph Miles.
Lonsdale
Georgia Miller, Francis Morrow.
Malvern
Laura Daes.
Mount Ida
Caleb Bridges.
Pearcy
Jared Ballard, John Hackney, Joseph Hollinger, Jakob Martin, McKinley Norton, Elisha Ray, Marcella Smith, Julia Young, Karrissa Zuetlau.
Pencil Bluff
Taylor Smallwood.
Royal
Connie Roberson, Tyler Singleton, Andrew Waller.
Tyler
Benjamin Tapley.
Technical certificates were presented to:
Amity
Sarah Prince, Monalisa Wright.
Arkadelphia
Devin Dowdle, Bobby Gravett, Kayla Thompson.
Bryant
Bobby Goodin.
Glenwood
Rainey Blake, Colton Gillaspy, Christian Parker.
Hot Springs
Ana Alegria, Helen Bahena, Araceli Barajas, Garrett Carriger, Marshall Carter, Tabitha Crossley, Austin Davis, Jamie Durfee, Jerimiah Elliott, Lavonda Evans, Lindsey Evans, Tyler Floyd, Brigitte Goslee, James Hardister, Hawes Heard, Kelicia Highsmith, Cole Howard, Michael Hulse, Randall King, Michel Kouetcha, Melissa Krafft, Linda Lee, Michael Lewis, James Longinotti, Kendra Mann, Suzanne McNary, Alice Moll, Reuben Palmer, Nicole Pedlar, Tyriana Person, Trip Pickens, Damon Prince, Kayla Roberson, Christy Rush, Bobbie Sebren, Dillon Stevens, Ashleigh Wiggins, Emily Wilkerson, April Wilson.
Hot Springs Village
Miguel Soria.
Kirby
Tyler Tigue, Teresa Weaver.
Malvern
Lana Kirksey.
Mountain Pine
Seth Perry.
North Little Rock
Kimberly Marks.
Pearcy
Jamie Keppert, Jakob Martin, Kimberly Phillips, Alexis Smallwood, Laura Woodall.
Royal
Joshua Hunter, Connie Roberson.
Story
Roberta Lenard.
School on 06/11/2017