COCC Commencement Set For June 15

The Central Oregon Community College Board will hold its commencement ceremony at 10am on Saturday, June 15, at the Mazama Field on the COCC Bend Campus. Of the more than 1,000 graduates receiving associate of arts, associate of science, associate of general studies, associate of applied science degrees and certificates of completion, approximately 500 are expected to participate in the ceremony.

Five students will be honored by the college for outstanding achievement. A reception will follow in the courtyard of the Campus Center.

Scott Cooper, the keynote speaker, is the executive director of NeighborImpact, an organization that provides critical services to low- and moderate income families. The organization serves more than 50,000 Central Oregon families annually with needs including food, energy assistance, housing and quality preschool and childcare. Previous to this position, Cooper was the executive director of the Partnership to End Poverty.

Central to his vision of a stronger Central Oregon, Cooper has been a staunch advocate for access by all residents, regardless of where they live, to higher education. He has been a passionate defender of expanding COCC’s presence in outlying communities of Central Oregon and is a longtime supporter of the COCC Foundation.

He was part of the effort to bring a university presence to the region and recently served as a member of the Higher Education Advisory Team, which laid the groundwork to expand OSU to a four-year university.

For information, call 541-383-7596.

In advance of college events, persons needing accommodation or transportation because of a physical or mobility disability, contact Joe Viola: 541-383-7775. For accommodation because of other disability such as hearing impairment, contact Anne Walker: 541-383-7743.