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MCC Celebrates Commencement Ceremony

Baxter Arena was bustling with families, friends and support systems ready to see their loved ones walk across the stage to receive their diploma.
 
Metropolitan Community College held its annual graduation commencement on May 20. The commencement honors students who graduated throughout the 2021-22 school year during various quarters, totaling more than 1,600 students.

MCC commencement signifies the perseverance of the graduates, especially those who didn’t know if this day would ever come.
 
Brianna Ouedraogo, the student speaker during the ceremony, started her education journey 10 years ago but found the right fit in 2019 in the Construction and Building Science program.
 
“I was kind of at a dead-end job at the time, and I was wanting something new where I could grow,” she said.
 
While Brianna’s husband put the idea of a job in construction in her head, she took the leap to go out and meet with different contractors, which led to an immediate internship.
 
“I needed 20 seconds of courage to walk through those doors,” she said in her address to her fellow graduates. “Sometimes all you need is 20 seconds and a little bit of courage.”
 
For other students, this is just the beginning of their education journey. Beth Ragland, an 86-year-old graduate, earned her Associate in Applied Science in Pre-Criminal Justice. She plans to continue her education to become a lawyer to practice elder law.
 
Family and friends weren’t the only ones proud of the graduates. Fred Uhe, the MCC Board of Governors president, shared sentiments from the Board.
 
“On behalf of the entire Board, I extend sincere congratulations to each of you tonight as you celebrate your stories and achievements for reaching the finish line,” he said.
 
To see photos from commencement, visit facebook.com/mccnebraska.