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West Virginia Northern Community College Graduates Class of 431 Students at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling

Photo by Scott McCloskey West Virginia Northern Community College Class of 2017 valedictorian Casey Lee Lyons of Colliers, center, poses with keynote speaker Beth A. Thomas, left, and WVNCC President Vicki Riley prior to commencement ceremonies Friday.

WHEELING — West Virginia Northern Community College graduated 431 students at WesBanco Arena Friday evening, making the class of 2017 the largest in the institution’s history.

A total of 449 degrees were awarded, with some graduates earning more than one degree.

Two of Friday’s graduates soon will have another commencement ceremony to attend — their high school graduation.

Brittney Ann Rose and Rebeckah Barnette, both seniors at Valley High School in Pine Grove, received degrees from WVNCC Friday evening. The two students achieved the unusual honor by taking early entrance classes.

Both plan to continue studying nursing in the fall at WVNCC.

“I wanted to get some of my core classes out of the way before college,” Rose said. “We’ll be more prepared to go to a bigger college when the time comes. I’m proud of myself for being able to accomplish this goal.”

The valedictorian for the Class of 2017 is Casey Lee Lyons, a student on the Weirton campus who lives in Colliers. She graduated with an associate in science degree and has plans to study in the pharmacy program at West Virginia University.

Prior to her speech, Lyons was presented the Donald D. Nemanich and Sarah O. Bodkin Academic Excellence Award for classroom excellence.

Wheeling native and WVNCC alumna Beth A. Thomas, executive vice president and managing director of consulting services for Sequent, a human resources consulting practice in Columbus, gave the keynote speech for the ceremony. WVNCC President Vicki Riley presented the 2017 Distinguished Alumnus Award to Thomas following her address to the graduates.

Thomas urged graduates to find a work culture in which they can grow.

“The best question you can ever ask your boss is if I were to come back to you in six months and you were to tell me I did a fantastic job, what would I have accomplished? That way you understand what you need to be successful,” Thomas said. “You must interview your prospective employers as much as they interview you. Ask to speak to some of your colleagues and find out what culture you’re joining and what the values and the vision of the organization are. You must be aligned with that.”

Other speakers included Courtney O’connor of Moundsville, Student Government Association president, who offered greetings on behalf of students and Scott Owen, instructor in business and Faculty Assembly president, who brought greetings on behalf of the faculty. Culinary arts students and chefs provided refreshments for a reception held in the arena’s Health Plan Pavilion after the ceremonies concluded.

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