BMCC Commencement Was Biggest Ever

The 53rd annual Blue Mountain Community College commencement ceremony took place Friday, June 12, and honored 440 graduates – BMCC’s largest graduating class ever by 45 students.

The 2015 commencement speaker was a voice that’s been heard all over the region almost daily for more than three decades. Butch Thurman, operations manager for Capps Broadcast Group (which owns six radio stations in the region), credits BMCC as a major factor in his successful career in radio. As a student at BMCC from 1979-1981, he studied radio broadcasting under the helm of instructor Blaine Hanks, who served as Thurman’s mentor up until his death two years ago. Thurman earned a job with KUMA AM and FM almost immediately after starting classes at BMCC in 1979. He attended BMCC and worked at KUMA until 1981, when he dropped all but his radio classes – which he took in the mornings – and worked at the radio station in the afternoons. He has now worked in local radio for a total of 21 years, and has spent 35 years in the industry.

On Friday, Thurman was awarded the first-ever honorary degree from BMCC.

In addition to Thurman, BMCC President Cam Preus addressed the graduates, as did two student speakers: Ashley Clark and Kevin Hawman. In a special twist, Clark’s mother Tammi – a 2009 graduate of BMCC and current BMCC employee – and Hawman’s father Mike – a 1980 graduate of BMCC – served as honorary marshals and led the students into the ceremony.

This year’s graduates came to BMCC from all over Oregon, as well as California, Idaho, Nevada, North Dakota and Washington. Fifteen are veterans, and 125 students graduated with honors. Early college credit played a prominent role for many, with 153 students graduating with some form of early college credit. In addition, there are six students who will have earned an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) degree while still in high school.

In addition to Friday evening’s commencement ceremony, BMCC’s inmate education program hosted a commencement for its graduates at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution on Friday. The program leads the state in the number of GED completers. Also, BMCC’s nursing program hosted its pinning ceremony for graduates of the Associate of Applied Science degree.