Blue Mountain Community President Mark Browning, left, hugs a graduating student Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at the Pendleton Convention Center during commencement.

PENDLETON — Blue Mountain Community College graduated 234 students Wednesday, June 14, with 135 participating in a commencement ceremony at the Pendleton Convention Center. The place was packed, with no empty seats in the house.

“Our graduates come from many different backgrounds, locations, families, all walks of life,” BMCC President Mark Browning said as he began the commencement. “Our students graduating tonight range in age from 17 to 62. We have 25 students who will be the first in their families to graduate, and 23 of our student-athletes will also graduate tonight representing each of our athletic teams.”

Students were clad in BMCC Timberwolf blue and graduation caps, and several wore cords that Browning explained signified their level of academic achievement.

“For students wearing honors, 158 of our graduates are wearing gold cords,” Browning said. “One cord indicates a 3.4 to 3.84 grade point average. Two gold cords represent the high honors of a 3.85 to a 4.0 GPA. Members of the student government are wearing blue and red cords, and our veterans are wearing red, white and blue cords.”

Browning asked for each elected official and individual who has served in the United States Armed Forces to stand and be recognized by the waiting graduates and the audience, receiving multiple rounds of applause.

As the ceremony continued, Browning invited two student speakers from the graduating class to give prepared speeches for the Class of 2023 and the gathered crowd.

“I do my best to avoid cliches, but I do think I’m obligated to say the Class of 2023. We made it,” William Kern said after being called to the podium. “I believe one of the best parts about a community college like BMCC is the diversity of students. There are people of all ages, and from all walks of life, each bringing their own experience to this community. Every single one of us is unique. And yet, here we are sitting together, ready to conquer the world.”

Kern’s great struggle, he explained, was that throughout his time as a Timberwolf, he worried he had not made the right choice. He talked to professors and advisors but couldn’t figure out a key question: What do I want to be when I grow up?

“As young children, we see the adults around us with their careers, and they seem to have it all together,” Kern said. “The crazy thing about this, though, is that every single one of them is faking it till they make it and we will be too. What I mean to say is, no one really knows exactly what they’re doing, and we learn by messing up and gaining experience.”

Following Kern’s speech, Taelor McIntyre took the podium to deliver her speech, beginning by telling the audience that above all, she was proud of everyone.

“If no one has told you yet, I’m proud of you. Everyone here has spent years of their lives working rigorously to earn your degree,” McIntyre said. “As a collective group of college students, we have family, school, jobs, and social lives, but somehow we kept our goals and stayed inspired and that is exemplified by the fact that we are sitting here today.”

As McIntyre completed her speech, Interim Chief Academic Officer Cynthia Azari called each graduate’s name as they came to collect their degree and shake Browning’s hand.

After each student had been called, Browning turned to the podium and certified the graduation, inviting families and friends to join for a party in the parking lot.

“To the Class of 2023,” he said, “congratulations.”