Columbia State Community College celebrated 145 degree and certificate candidates as they crossed the stage during the commencement ceremony in the Webster Athletic Center Saturday, December 10.
Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president, opened the ceremony by welcoming degree and certificate candidates, faculty, staff and guests.
“Today is a special day for several reasons,” Smith said. “First and foremost, it is a day of celebration of accomplishments. It is a day of recognition that these soon to be graduates set a goal and accomplished it.”
Smith introduced alum Elizabeth Crutcher as the guest speaker for the fall commencement ceremony. She is the operational coordinator for the Solvay manufacturing site in Mount Pleasant where she supports the team in various capacities, such as assisting with human resources, safety, communications and employee engagement.
Smith highlighted Crutcher, who attended Columbia Central High School, graduating in 1975. She then graduated from Columbia State Community College in 1977 with an Associate of Science degree in secretarial science, receiving both the Business and English Awards. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Bethel University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science degree in management and organizational development.
Crutcher began by thanking the college for the opportunity. She then reflected on a recent program in her position designed to help women learn how to embrace their ambitions.
“I marvel at how this opportunity presented itself at the same time I was participating in a program geared at learning to trust my instincts, reach out to other people, build a network and step out of my comfort zone,” Crutcher said. “Yes, even at this stage of my life, I needed help. Dr. Smith’s invitation arrived just a few days after I had completed a work-related challenge that I had chosen for myself as part of the program. Her invitation was another opportunity for me to come out of my comfort zone.”
Crutcher went on to encourage graduates with a piece of advice from her own mother: “If you can fix the problem, do it; if you can’t, don’t worry about it because worrying won’t help – own your mistakes and find someone who can help you with it.”
“You are here today because you have reached an exciting milestone - but it doesn't’t stop here,” Crutcher said. “I believe you will go on to accomplish great things and you will think of the professors, classmates and friends that helped you along the way.”
Crutcher closed her address with offering another piece of advice to the graduates: “Wisdom comes in all shapes and sizes, we must’t let it pass us by, we must keep our eyes open for people who have our best interests at heart. I congratulate you on your success in reaching this milestone and I encourage you to continue to learn from the past and embrace the future. I truly believe that life is a journey, not a race, and I encourage you to please try to enjoy the ride.”
Closing the ceremony, the alumni induction of new graduates was presented by Molly Rogers, Columbia State alum and instructor of business, and Alla Mohammed, fall 2022 graduate and member of the President’s Leadership Society.
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Alla Mohammed, President’s Leadership Society graduate, was also honored with a medallion at the commencement ceremony.
“The establishment of this society was based on the belief that leadership is inherent to our lives and that we all have leadership roles,” Smith said. “The President’s Leadership Society is open to all students at Columbia State and requires only their commitment to involvement for learning, participation, and helping others.”
Formed in spring 2011, PLS is a free leadership training program focused on developing a student’s unique leadership skills from their first semester through graduation. The program focuses on participation in college-sponsored programs that promote educational attainment, career choices, volunteerism and civic responsibility.
During the course of the program, students will attend a leadership retreat, enjoy exposure to the arts, participate in workshops and campus life, develop civic understanding and give back to the community through volunteerism.
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