SPRINGFIELD, MO – Ozarks Technical Community College is proud to announce plans for its 2025 Commencement ceremonies, scheduled for Thursday, May 15, at Great Southern Bank Arena on the Missouri State University campus. This year’s celebration will include two ceremonies, allowing the college to better accommodate the growing number of graduates and their guests. 
  • First Ceremony: 3 p.m. (Doors open at 1:30 p.m.) 
  • Second Ceremony: 6 p.m. (Doors open at 4:30 p.m.) 
  Graduates from Summer 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025 are eligible to participate. Ceremony assignments are based on a program of study. View the full schedule. 
  This year’s ceremonies will feature inspiring remarks from two outstanding student speakers and a keynote address from one of Ozarks Tech’s most respected leaders. Their stories reflect the determination, resilience, and community spirit that define the Class of 2025. 
  Mary Higginbotham, the 3 p.m. ceremony speaker, is earning her Associate of Arts in Behavioral Sciences and a Certificate of Achievement in American Sign Language. A single mother of three, Mary returned to school in 2022 and quickly became a leader on campus. She serves as Vice President of Campus Promotions for Phi Theta Kappa, an international honors society for two-year schools, and co-founded the Silent Poets’ Society, a student club focused on American Sign Language and Deaf culture. 
  Mary also works in the Honors Office and volunteers with Polk County Cares, a nonprofit that supports under-resourced families. She was named Missouri’s 2025 New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar and received the Oberndorf Lifeline to Completion Scholarship. After graduation, she plans to study psychology and social work at Missouri State University and hopes to provide affordable mental health care in her community.
  Derek Saiko, who will speak at the 6 p.m. ceremony, is graduating with an Associate of Arts in Business. He started at Ozarks Tech in 2022 and found his passion after taking an economics course. His time at the college has been defined by his involvement in organizations like Politically Active and Phi Theta Kappa as well as his commitment to serving others through volunteer work and peer outreach. 
  Outside the classroom, Derek held multiple jobs while encouraging fellow students to get involved in campus life. He plans to continue his education in financial planning at Missouri State University, with the long-term goal of opening his own business and helping others achieve financial security. 
  Dr. Tracy McGrady, Ozarks Tech’s Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, will deliver the keynote address at both ceremonies. A longtime leader at the college, Dr. McGrady joined Ozarks Tech in 2001 and has served in roles ranging from instructor to dean to her current position, which she’s held since 2017. 
  As Provost, Dr. McGrady led the development of new academic programs, helped launch Missouri’s first community college bachelor’s degree, and guided the college through the pandemic. She will retire this summer after more than two decades of service focused on advancing student success, academic quality, and access to education. 
  For more information about the ceremonies, visit the Ozarks Tech Commencement page.