Spokane Community College graduates 47

NEWPORT – Gratitude was the catch word for 47 Spokane Community College graduates that set the tone for commencement at the Newport High School gymnasium Wednesday, June 12.

Chancellor Kevin Brockbank addressed the assemblage, saying they earned the title of graduate.

“You will be labeled throughout your lives – brother, sister, mother, even jerk – but tonight you are graduates, a label you get to keep for the rest of your lives,” he said.

“You had to overcome many things: fear, self-esteem, time with family and friends, and priorities. You overcame them all.”

Class speaker Peiyin Wu had to overcome language barriers throughout her college years often becoming exasperated as she pulled long hours studying behind her computer.

Enrolling in ESL, she successfully graduated giving praise to the college’s staff for helping her attain a degree in accounting. Her husband, Jiaxiong Wu, also graduated with his wife.

“We have set the example for our children,” Wu said.

“Seize the moment,” she challenged the audience, graduates and college staff. “It’s never too late.”

Another speaker, graduate Kelsi Reese, said being a Spokane Community College graduate was an opportunity for growth, change and opportunity.

She said it was hard for her in the beginning.

“My grades were dropping because I was tired of expectations,” Reese said. “But my family pushed me and I came out stronger than before” Reese concluded with a quote from Oprah Winfrey, “There is no such thing as failure.”

Class speaker Jarron Lyon thanked families, friends and the parents for celebrating their graduations and said she was grateful for them and college staff and faculty for supporting them.

“My brother took two years of college while in high school and I wanted to be a part of it,” she said.

Spokane Community College graduated 30 college students, 12 received their high school diplomas and five earned their GEDs.

Innesa Mikhailenko, 18, plans on attending Eastern Washington State University to concentrate on biology and forensic science.

“I love helping people and I believe you should pursue your strengths,” she said.

Emma Rose Sullivan attended Cusick High School while enrolled at SCC on the Running Start program Running Start allows high school juniors and seniors to earn both college and high school credits with up to 21 tuition-free credits each quarter.

Sullivan will attend the University of Hawaii to study Political Science on her way to law school.

“College was a change of pace and was more challenging than high school,” she said.

Sullivan’s sister Brittney Biss said she was proud of her. Biss was another past graduate of Running Start.

“She’s gone beyond me,” Biss said.