Columbia State Community College celebrated 227 degree and certificate candidates as they crossed the stage in front of family and friends during the 50th Anniversary celebration commencement exercises in the Webster Athletic Center Saturday, May 7.
With extra pomp and circumstance in honor of its golden anniversary, Columbia State added the Nashville-based 17th Lancers Pipes and Drums to its processional. The traditional Scottish band led faculty, staff and graduates into the gym as they played “The Battle of Waterloo.”
Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president, opened the ceremony by welcoming graduates, faculty, staff, family, friends and guests, thanking them for celebrating the accomplishments of the students.
“Today is a special day,” Smith said. “It is a day of recognition that these graduates set a goal and accomplished it.”
Dr. Margaret D. Smith, executive vice president and provost for academic and student programs and services, then recognized the Distinguished Faculty Award winner, Shelly Ganter, associate professor of English.
[images_grid auto_slide=”no” auto_duration=”1″ cols=”three” lightbox=”no” source=”media: 116257,116258,116259,116260,116261,116262″][/images_grid]
President Smith followed with a presentation of the President’s Medal winner, Sharon Bowen, director of records for Columbia State.
Both were recently recognized at Columbia State’s annual Employee Honors and Awards Convocation.
As part of Columbia State’s golden anniversary celebration, spring 2016 graduate Hillary G. Allen delivered this year’s commencement address.
Allen, a Williamson County resident, expressed her gratitude at being chosen to be the commencement speaker for the college’s 50th Anniversary ceremony.
“It’s not every day we get to celebrate a fiftieth,” Allen said. “When a college reaches a milestone, it’s especially unique because we get to share our triumphs together.”
Sharing her story of being diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder after high school and the stigma attached to it, Allen said stigmas, like stereotypes, are hard to break. She added that she believes that they are nearly impossible to shake off by yourself.
“All I ever needed was someone to believe in me,” Allen said. “Someone who, when I said, ‘When I grow up I want to be a famous author,’ they would simply respond, ‘And I’ll be your biggest fan.’”
Allen said what makes Columbia State so special is that at the heart of education is a deep and profound sense of responsibility for the community and those in it.
Extending kudos to another student for recently starting a club on campus designed to educate students on abuse, Allen said that students at Columbia State are taught to use their talent, drive and dedication to make a difference in the world.
Allen noted that whatever challenges Columbia State students carry with them, graduation is a milestone recording of the incredible odds they defied while trying to balance hardships and life while being a student.
“I know you looked back, because we all did. We never forget where we came from. It’s something we’re known for here at Columbia State,” Allen said. “The reality is that life doesn’t get any easier; you just get better at it. I think after today, however, we can all say we’ve gotten a little better at this game called life.”
Following Allen’s speech, President Smith recognized the seven President’s Leadership Society graduates for their participation in the program that focuses on helping students develop and apply their unique leadership skills.
“We established the President’s Leadership Society in the spring of 2011, based on the belief that leadership is inherent to our lives and that we all have leadership roles,” President Smith said. “PLS is open to all students at Columbia State and requires only their commitment to involvement for learning, participation and helping others.”
During the course of the program, students attend retreats, enjoy exposure to the arts, participate in workshops and campus life, develop civic understanding, and give back to the community through service. Today, there are more than 200 PLS members.
Closing the ceremony, the alumni induction of the new graduates was presented by Mariolive Landon, President’s Leadership Society graduate, and Ken Horner, Columbia State vice president of financial and administrative services and active Columbia State alum.
View more photos at Columbia State website.
About Columbia State
Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee’s first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, one of the largest higher education systems in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.
[scroller style=”sc1″ title=”Columbia State News” display=”cats” cats=”267″ number_of_posts=”10″ auto_play=”5000″ speed=”300″]
Please join our FREE Newsletter
