College Celebrates Spring Graduation Ceremonies

 Morganton– Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC) celebrated its Spring 2014 graduates with two graduation ceremonies on recently at the City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium (CoMMA). WPCC President Dr. Jim Burnett presided over the ceremonies in which a total of 237 graduates participated of the more than 400 students earning a degree, diploma or certificate and including 41 Burke Middle College graduates. These were the last graduation ceremonies over which Dr. Burnett, a 40-year employee of WPCC, will preside at the College. He will retire on July 31, 2014.

Graduation is the culmination of the important student goal and dream to enhance knowledge and skills to move ahead in life. For graduate Toni Nadeau, crossing the CoMMA stage to receive her diploma is a moment she—and her children—will long savor.

“I have been working toward my Accounting degree since 1998,” she explained. “I felt it was important         to not only receive my degree at the ceremony but to have my children see me accomplish my goal. Regardless of your age, it is never too late to go back to school. And now I am watching my son go off to college. My important accomplishment will serve me the rest of life.”

Ms. Nadeau is now a Financial Assistant at the Community Foundation of Burke County.

The keynote speaker at the 4 p.m. ceremony was Mary Charlotte Safford, Western Piedmont’s Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences. Speaking at the 7:30 p.m. ceremony was Philip Moore, Wells Fargo Bank’s Business Banking Manager and a Western Piedmont Foundation director.

More than 1,000 graduate family members, friends, and WPCC employees attended the two ceremonies held on Thursday, May 15. Photographs of the event are posted on the College’s Flickr account accessible by selecting here. Individual graduate photos for purchase are available by visiting http://brady.photoreflect.com

Western Piedmont Community College is situated in the picturesque rolling foothills of Morganton, North Carolina, and has served the citizens of Burke County since 1964. Each year, more than 10,700 students pursue personal enrichment, new skills for a job or career, high school diplomas, college degrees, and transfer pathways. Registration for Summer Semester is Tuesday, May 27 and Wednesday, May 28. Apply online or visit the Western Piedmont campus to apply in person.