Neosho County Community College celebrated the largest graduating class in the school’s history on Friday, May 16.
This year also saw the first time all students in a healthcare program were recognized at one pinning ceremony, which took place prior to the graduation ceremony.
These programs include phlebotomy, medical assistant, medical coding, health information technology, diagnostic medical sonography, occupational therapy assistant, surgical technology, practical nursing, and associate degree nursing. Graduates were presented pins, sashes, and medals, and recited the Allied Healthcare Oath, and the Nurse’s Prayer.
The 88th annual commencement ceremony began with a welcome from NCCC President Dr. Brian Inbody, followed by a performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by the NCCC Vocal Ensemble. Graduate Jonathan Perryman then led an invocation.
Each year a distinguished alumna is recognized during commencement. The 2025 Distinguished Alumna is Farhad Azima, who was also the commencement speaker.
Azima graduated from NCCC in 1966, and Inbody introduced him as an internationally recognized entrepreneur and said he has demonstrated leadership in sectors such as aviation, logistics, and transportation. Azima has served three U.S. Presidents and played a key role in advising Bill Clinton during his 1996 campaign according to Inbody.
Azima is a recipient of the 1998 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the William Jewell University Lifetime Achievement Award, and an Honorary Doctorate degree from the American University of Afghanistan.
He currently serves on the U.S. Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Trustees of American Afghanistan University, and the U.S. Command and General Studies Staff College Foundation.
“Today marks the end of one chapter, and the beginning of another in your life,” Azima said. “You have put in the work, stayed the course, and earned the right to call yourselves graduates.”
Azima encouraged students to follow their dreams.
“The sky is the limit. Don’t think small,” Azima said. “If you think small, you do small things. Think big.”
While some think of community college as a stepping stone, Azima said his NCCC education provided him with a launch pad.
“Now that you have graduated and are heading out to different directions – universities or new careers – go on, and go big,” Azima said. “Follow your dreams; make mistakes; make memories, and above all, be proud of what you have built here. You earned every bit of it.”
He said students should remember that success isn’t only getting to the top of a career ladder, but it is also lifting and building others up, and pulling them up as one goes.
He said that success is not the absence of failure.
“The truth is that no one has figured out life completely. The good news is that you don’t need to figure out or map out everything in life,” Azima said. “So I suggest that you go on, take a risk, fail a few times, and laugh a lot on the way. Remember, if you don’t laugh at life, life will laugh at you.”
Of his personal experience at NCCC, Azima said that the school was special. Azima said NCCC is where he learned many things; the true meaning of kindness, care, and how to be helpful to others.
“The experiences that I learned here, the values that I learned – the integrity, the honesty of the people – it became the hallmark of my life. Thank you to this college,” Azima said. “And congratulations Class of 2025.
The future awaits you.”
