John Wood Community College Commencement

John Wood Community College will hold its thirty-ninth annual commencement ceremony on Friday, May 16, at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Activity Center on the Quincy Campus at 48th and Harrison. This year’s ceremony will feature the inauguration of Michael Elbe as JWCC’s sixth president.

The inauguration formally installs a new president and marks a new era in the College’s history. Elbe assumed the presidency April 1, 2014 from Dr. John Letts

JWCC will confer 334 associate degrees and 236 certificates. Elbe will confer degrees and certificates and Jim Gay, chair of the JWCC Board of Trustees, will accept candidates as graduates.

Stacey Wade will represent the graduating Class of 2014 by delivering the invocation and benediction. She is a member of JWCC’s Never Too Late adult student organization and Community Education Office assistant.

Debra Baucom and Chad Lentz will provide student reflections. Baucom will receive an Associate in Applied Science degree in office technology/administrative assistant. Lentz will receive an Associate in Science in engineering and will transfer to the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and major in agricultural engineering.

Torri Meyer will provide the student response to the alumni investiture. Brent Mansfield will serve as macebearer.  Todd Saxton, English instructor, will announce the names of the 2014 graduates during the ceremony.

Also recognized during the ceremony will be William Hysell, campus police officer, JWCC’s 2013 Staff Member of the Year; Beverly Landis, office technology instructor, Associate Faculty Member of the Year and Anne Scott, test room monitor, Part-Time Staff Member of the Year.

JWCC’s Instrumental Ensemble will play processional and recessional selections and the College’s Concert Choir will perform a musical selection by Greg Gilpin. Both groups are under the direction of Gary L. DeClue, department chair and professor of fine arts.