Summary
OTC's 2024 commencement will be historic. Three students will become the first in the state of Missouri to ever earn a bachelor's degree from a community college. The three will earn a Bachelor's in Respiratory Therapy.
The 2024 Ozarks Technical Community College commencement will be historic. The May 16 graduation ceremony at Great Southern Bank Arena will be the first time in the state’s history that a community college confers bachelor’s degrees. Three OTC students will receive a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy.
“This is a point of pride for OTC,” said Dr. Hal Higdon, OTC chancellor. “When the state gave community colleges the ability to offer bachelor’s degrees in high-demand disciplines, OTC worked hard to be the first because meeting the workforce’s needs is key to our mission.”
The three bachelor’s degree recipients are Daniel Bowles, Samantha Gonzalez and Jade Humphreys.
In 2021, the Coordinating Board for Higher Education approved OTC and St. Louis Community College to offer bachelor’s degrees in respiratory therapy. OTC’s bachelor’s in respiratory therapy debuted in January of 2023 with students in Springfield and at the college’s new respiratory therapy laboratory at OTC Waynesville.
JMARK CEO Tom Douglas will deliver the keynote address at the 2024 commencement. A Navy veteran and Bolivar native, Douglas purchased JMARK in 2001. The technology company has more than 125 employees serving clients in 43 states. JMARK has been so successful that “Inc. Magazine” named it one of America’s fastest-growing companies nine times.
The college will honor attorney Ben McBride as OTC’s 2024 Distinguished Alumni. A 2001 OTC graduate, McBride earned bachelor’s and law degrees from Oklahoma City University. Following a successful legal career, McBride more recently became the Executive Director of the non-profit I Pour Life. McBride also serves as a Municipal Judge for the City of Republic.
The commencement student speaker is Robert-Thomas Gumersell. Gumersell, a formerly homeschooled student, thrived in college. He became an officer with the Politically Active student group and the International Honor Society Phi Theta Kappa. Gumersell also worked as a student ambassador. He will transfer to Missouri State in the fall to pursue a degree in communication.
The doors to Great Southern Bank Arena will open at 3:30 p.m. The ceremony will also be live-streamed on OTC’s website.
