OWENSBORO, Ky. — Owensboro Community & Technical College honored its summer and fall semester graduates recently, not with a traditional commencement ceremony, but with a safer alternative during the COVID-19 pandemic.
OCTC normally holds a December commencement ceremony to honor graduates from the summer and fall semesters. Since a traditional graduation ceremony was prohibited, faculty and staff volunteers delivered “Congratulations Graduates” yard signs to students’ homes in the region. Those outside the region will receive window banners in the mail.
OCTC awarded 363 fall and summer students with 645 certificates, 61 diplomas and 326 associate degrees. An alternative ceremony will be planned for the spring as health restrictions allow. All graduates from May and December will also be invited to the next scheduled in-person ceremony.
OCTC Honors Graduates are denoted with a single asterisk as a *Graduate with Distinction, earning at least 45 credit hours for a degree or 30 credit hours for a diploma at a KCTCS college, earning a GPA of 3.4-3.59 on all work attempted; or a double asterisk as a **Graduate with High Distinction, earning at least 45 credit hours for a degree or 30 credit hours for a diploma at a KCTCS college, earning a GPA of 3.6 or higher on all work attempted.
Below are the Ohio County students honored by OCTC.
Administrative Office Technology- Janel Tierney
Air Conditioning Technology- Dalton Wayne Porter
Associate in Arts- Alyson Marie Burgans, James William Crofton, Baylee Nicole Doolin, Shannon Rechelle Mattos*, Jamie Rose Maurer, Halle Christine Olson, Kyle Seaton, Tristian Sims, Abby Gayle Stevenson, Haley Nicole Tong, Calee Faye Whittaker*, and Maria Shavon Wimsatt
Associate in Science- Tammy Renea Bratcher, Gavin Isaac Brown**, Stacie Burgess, Kayla Danielle Calloway, Brittany Campbell, Laryssa Michelle Carter, Hannah Nicole Clark, Chad Mason Coleman, Lucas James Corley, Lugene Hope Costello*, Chloe Ann Fulton**, Kaleb Matthew Gregory**, Katlyn Paige Kirk**, Shannon Rechelle Mattos*, Brady Joe Morphew, Gerald Clinton Snell, Janel Tierney, Haley Nicole Tong, and Scarlett Nicole Vitek**
Computerized Machining & Manufacturing- Joshua Trent Vender
Computer & Information Technology- Derek Matthew Lindsey**
Construction Technology– Tyler Jacob Taylor
Electrical Technology- Kyler Evan Cook, Logan Lavon Himes**, and Joshua Trent Vender
Fire Rescue Science Technology- Cassi Jean Pate
Industrial Maintenance Technology- Logan Lavon Himes and Joshua Trent Vender**
Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education- Esther Grace Shaffer*
Medicaid Nurse Aide- Kaleb Matthew Gregory and Katlyn Paige Kirk
Medical Assisting- Emily Grace Garner**, Sarah Elizabeth Gomez, Shannon Rechelle Mattos*, and Jessica Whittaker
Medical Information Technology- Melanie Leeanne Manasco and Samantha Rae Sparks
Surgical Technology- Leslie Kirk Osborne
Welding Technology- Isaac Worth Bosley** and Joshua Trent Vender