Due to the flooding in East Pocahontas, BRTC held its Spring 2017 Commencement Tuesday, May 23 at Sutton Free Will Baptist Church in Pocahontas. BRTC awarded 291 degrees and certificates to 244 graduates. Some students completed more than one certificate or degree. Separate commencement ceremonies were held for nursing and law enforcement graduates.
Degrees were conferred by BRTC President Dr. Eric Turner and awarded by Vice President for Technical Education Dr. Angie Caldwell. Degrees awarded included two-year Associate of Arts, Associate of Business, and Associate of Applied Science degrees as well as one-year technical certificates, and one-semester certificates of proficiency.
Amber Green, candidate for the Associate of Science in Business, served as graduate candidate spokesperson. Amber is married to Rodney Green, who also graduated the same evening, and has two children, Hailey and Garrison. Amber is the human resource assistant at BRTC and was the human resource manager at Pocahontas Health Care and Rehabilitation Center for four years. Amber is involved in Leadership Randolph County. In the fall, Amber will begin work on a baccalaureate degree in Human Resource Management at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Paragould mayor Mike Gaskill served as guest speaker. He was elected mayor in November 1997 has served the citizens of Paragould for over 19 years. He is a graduate of Paragould High School, is married to Tammie, and they have two sons, Andrew and Seth. Mayor Gaskill is the chair of the Local Police and Fire Pension Board, Northeast Arkansas Regional Solid Waste Management District, Workforce Investment Board Chief Elected Officials (for seven county district), AMMC Hospital Board, and serves on the State Aid Street Committee as well as the Economic Development Committee of Paragould. In addition he serves on the executive committee of Arkansas Municipal League, volunteers for the United Way of Greene County, and is co-chair of the education division.
BRTC sincerely thanks pastor Kevin Barnet, deacons, and parishioners of Sutton Free Will Baptist Church in Pocahontas for providing not only a location but also their help and support of BRTC’s Spring 2017 Commencement.