BENTONVILLE -- Matthew Campbell described as family some of the students he took multiple classes with the past few years at Northwest Arkansas Community College.
"That's what's bittersweet about leaving," he said.
Outstanding Alumni Award
Todd Thomas, a Bentonville business owner and Air Force veteran, will receive Northwest Arkansas Community College’s annual Dick Trammel Outstanding Alumni Award at today’s 3 p.m. commencement ceremony, according to a college news release. Thomas received an associate of science degree in 2008 and went on to receive bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics from the University of Arkansas. He owns Bentonville Copy and Ship and often volunteers his time to organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Boy Scouts of America, Trike Theatre and the NWA Fencing Foundation.
Source: Staff report
Campbell, 18, is one of three distinguished graduates being honored at the college's graduation ceremonies today at the Arend Arts Center on the Bentonville High School campus. Three ceremonies will take place at 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m.
Campbell will receive an associate of science degree. He plans to continue his education at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla., to study civil engineering.
The Bentonville resident completed his degree while also being home-schooled. Later this month he'll celebrate completing his high school education along with more than 40 other home-schooled students who have qualified as high school graduates.
Campbell said he originally didn't want to attend the college.
"My parents made me. But now I'm glad I did," he said. "I don't think I'd be as open to learning new things, taking risks. My educational experience wouldn't be as fun as it's been."
Campbell, as a distinguished graduate, gets to make a speech during the noon graduation ceremony. His message, he said, will be on the importance of not being offended by the perspectives and ideas different people have.
"It's OK for people to disagree. It's OK for people to think differently," he said.
Elizabeth Frank, another distinguished graduate, moved to Northwest Arkansas about three years ago from Wisconsin. She is graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0 grade point average. She has always gotten good grades, but never has been a 4.0 student, she said.
"Elizabeth excelled in all of her classes at NWACC and exhibits strong work ethic and character in her studies and in her relationships with classmates and instructors," according to a biography provided by the college.
Frank, 21, also received the Outstanding Graduate Award for the Business and Computer Information Systems Division. She intends to major in accounting at her next stop in higher education.
Today's graduation walk will be her first. Though she attended high school in Wisconsin, she took only online classes her last two years.
As of Friday, she wasn't sure what she'd be telling fellow graduates in her speech to them at today's 3 p.m. ceremony.
"I've been working on it all day and yesterday. It's been difficult to say the least," Frank said.
Samantha Malmo, 20, is a 2013 Bentonville High School graduate. She'll be recognized as the distinguished graduate of the 9 a.m. graduation ceremony.
Malmo earned a 3.92 grade point average, according to the college. She was one of the founding members of Student Alliance for Refugees, a group that collects toys and school supplies for children affected by the ongoing crisis in Syria.
She will attend the University of Arkansas this fall to study history and intends to continue on to law school after that. She plans to study international law and fight for humanitarian causes.
"There are so many horrible things happening in the world. In order to see change, you have to be part of that change," Malmo said.
She is looking forward to a week-long service trip this summer to Costa Rica to repair houses and schools, start a library and work in a monkey reserve. She has worked as a nanny and a waitress throughout her college years to help pay for her education and her Costa Rica trip, she said.
The college will award 1,150 degrees and certificates during today's commencement ceremonies. Officials are using the day to kick off the college's 25th anniversary celebration.
Dick Trammel will receive an honorary associate's degree in servant leadership at the noon ceremony. Joan Clifford will receive an honorary associate's degree in arts and letters at the 3 p.m. ceremony. Trammel and Clifford are both former board members at the college.
Faculty members Jacqueline Jones and Dede Hamm will be honored as distinguished faculty. Jones is subject coordinator of composition and adviser of the National Society of Leadership and Success. Hamm is culinary arts and hospitality management program coordinator.
NW News on 05/09/2015