NSCC President Dr. Michael Thomson
ARCHBOLD, OHIO – Northwest State Community College virtually celebrated the December 2020 graduating class at their fall ceremony last evening, held as a pre-recorded e-Commencement on the College’s YouTube channel.The ceremony recognized the awarding of 126 degrees and/or certificates to 118 students from the divisions of Arts & Sciences; Business & Public Services; Nursing and Allied Health; and Science, Technology, Engineering Technology & Math (STEM) and Industrial Technologies.
NSCC President Dr. Michael Thomson announced the President’s Outstanding Student: Michael Borton. Borton graduates Magna Cum Laude with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Maintenance Technician/Mechatronics, and has earned multiple certificates at NSCC. Lana Snider, NSCC Vice President of Enrollment Management & Student Affairs followed Dr. Thomson, and provided a statistical snapshot of the graduating class. Snider noted that 80% of the graduating class lives in the College’s six-county service area (Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Paulding, Van Wert and Williams counties), the average age of the graduates is 27, and the grade point average of the class is 3.40.
BREAKDOWN OF ACHIEVEMENTS
Of the 126 awards, 89 were associate degrees and 37 were certificates. Graduates by academic division included Arts & Sciences (4), Business & Public Services (22), STEM & Industrial Technologies (34) and Nursing & Allied Health (51). Registered Nursing featured 29 graduates, while Practical Nursing featured 22 graduates.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER: CARRIE SCHLADE
The keynote speaker for this year’s commencement ceremony was Carrie Schlade, Mayor of Bryan. Schlade graduated from Northwest State Community College in 1999 with an associate degree in paralegal studies, and proudly serves as Bryan’s first female mayor. Schlade recalled her own NSCC student experiences and how they shaped her future, both personally and professionally.
Her concluding message to graduates was: “The (COVID) pandemic has caused change in many areas of our lives, including your education. You have risen through those hardships and earned your degree. You should take a breath, be proud, and relish in your accomplishments… You have already proven adversity cannot stand in your way.”
Commencement Speaker Bryan Mayor Carrie Schlade
EMERITUS STATUS HONOREES RECOGNIZED
The College also recognized eight individuals that were recently awarded Emeritus status, an honorary title awarded for distinguished service to the academic community. The faculty recipients were Steve Dick, Dianne Wendt, and Gary Kadesch. The administrator recipients were Dr. Cindy Krueger, and Tom Wylie. The Board of Trustees member recipients were Darrell Handy, Michael Faber, and Darrell Jones.
FACULTY
Mr. Dick served as a faculty member in Industrial Technologies from 2003 to 2014. He was instrumental in the joint venture between Four County Career Center and Northwest State for high school students to earn college credit by taking fluid power courses. Mrs. Wendt served as a faculty in the Nursing division for nearly 30 years, starting in 1986.
She was initially the only full-time faculty in the Practical Nursing program and single-handedly developed curriculum, taught courses, and participated in committees. Mr. Kadesch served as a faculty member in the Engineering Technologies division from 1985 to 2017. He was an integral part of the design and layout of the E building, which helped the engineering and industrial technologies programs grow and succeed.
ADMINISTRATORS
Dr. Krueger initially joined Northwest State as a nursing faculty member in 1989 and was a founding member of the current nursing programs. She also served as Dean of Allied Health and Public Service, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success, Vice President for Academics, and Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Student Success.
Mr. Wylie joined Northwest State in 2000 as Dean of Engineering Technologies / Business & Industry Training. In 2006, he was promoted to Vice President for Innovation. He retired in 2013 and was rehired as Associate Vice President for Special Projects. Wylie pioneered and introduced the hybrid models currently used in the Industrial classes.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Mr. Handy served as a trustee on the Northwest State Board of Trustees from 1997 to 2005. In addition, he served several terms on the Defiance City Council and is currently an adjunct instructor at Northwest State. Mr. Faber served as a trustee from 1985 to 2011.
His career in Human Resources was a valuable resource to the Board of Trustees during his tenure. Darrell Jones served as a trustee from 1988 to 1997. His commitment to public service included the American Association of School Administrators, the Buckeye Association of School Administrators and the Defiance County Farm Bureau, to name a few.