Butte College
News Announcement

Butte College Hosted 49th Annual Commencement Ceremony ON May 25

Other Graduations:

Wednesday, May 23:
Paramedic Graduation Ceremony, 4-6 p.m., Butte College Black Box Theater in Arts Building, 3536 Butte Campus Drive, Oroville.

Thursday, May 24:
Registered Nursing Pinning Ceremony, 4-5 p.m., Paradise Performing Arts Center, 777 Nunneley Road, Paradise
Automotive Technology Graduation, 6-8 p.m., Butte College Skyway Center, 2480 Notre Dame Blvd, Chico

Friday, May 25:
Firefighter 1 Academy Class 69 Graduation, 11:30-1:30 p.m., Center for the Arts, Pleasant Valley High School, 1475 East Avenue, Chico

Respiratory Therapy Graduation Ceremony, 3-4 p.m., Paradise Performing Arts Center, 777 Nunneley Road, Paradise

Friday, June 8:
Law Enforcement Academy Class 141 Graduation, 3-5 p.m. Paradise Performing Arts Center, 777 Nunneley Road, Paradise
Welding Graduation, 5-9 p.m., Campus Center, Butte College, 3536 Butte Campus Drive, Oroville

Tuesday, June 12:
Department of Parks and Recreation Academy Group 41 Graduation, 2-4 p.m. at the Paradise Alliance Church, 6491 Clark Road, Paradise

Butte College Commencement on Friday, May 25 at 7 p.m. at Cowan Stadium wAS held rain or shine:

Butte College marked its 49th Annual Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 25 at 7 p.m., at the John Cowan Sports Complex, 3536 Butte Campus Drive, Oroville. A total of 1,683 degrees were conferred. Butte College President Dr. Samia Yaqub along with the Butte-Glenn Community College District Board of Trustees presided.

The event drew thousands of attendees including faculty, staff, administrators, family and friends, who came together to celebrate the significant milestone.

“This is a very exciting time at Butte College, and it’s my favorite time of year. Our graduates become part of the Butte College family,” said Samia Yaqub, Butte College President. “An education is something our graduates have earned and they should be proud of their accomplishments whether it’s our youngest graduates at 16, or our most mature graduate at 77.”

The ceremony included participation from a number of graduates, including a student commencement speaker, student vocalist and two students who served as gonfalon marshalls.

The 2018 student commencement speaker, Sean Headley, 25, of Grass Valley, earned two Associate in Science degrees, one in mathematics and one in physics. Sean is currently attending UC Davis and his course of study is Computer and Electrical Engineering. After earning his Bachelor’s degree, Sean plans to attend graduate school for Computer Engineering. Sean hopes to work in the emerging field of renewable energy – hydrogen production technology. Sean is currently conducting research with six fellow classmates and UC Davis Professor Jerry Woodall – inventor of the high-efficiency red LEDs. Sean says he will be spending all summer and the foreseeable future working on new inventions and researching water-splitting hydrogen technology.

In an excerpt from Headley’s commencement speech, he focuses on the importance of education and kindness.“Sometimes the things we need to learn are hard, or we aren’t prepared for them, or we don’t have the natural talent. But we can still succeed if we keep going, and sometimes the classes that make us struggle will be the ones that change our lives.” He ends his speech with, “Today each and every one of us holds something special in our hearts and minds, and that’s the gift of knowledge. We can use that gift to continue changing our lives for the better, and we can use it to keep achieving, even when we struggle, we can use it to give back, and we can use it to inspire others around us.”

Commencement vocalist Marcus Rutledge, 20, of Paradise, performed the National Anthem. Rutledge has earned his Associate in Arts Transfer degree in Theater Arts and is transferring to San Diego State University to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Musical Theater. His goal is to become an actor for the stage or film. Rutledge’s advice to future students is to “find something to study that interests you and be present in your classes.”

Two students, both with 4.0 grade point averages, were selected as this year’s gonfalon marshals. Brittney Fjeld, 21, of Chico, (Associate in Arts Transfer degree in Kinesiology) and Anna Boreatti, 21, of Chico, (Associate in Arts degree in Sociology), carried the student Butte College banners during opening ceremonies.

Butte College’s 2018 graduates span a wide array of ages, ranging from 16-77. The college’s youngest graduate who participated in commencement this year is Kayla Atkinson, 18, of Paradise, who received her Associate in Arts degree in Social and Behavioral Science. Butte College has five graduates over the age of 60 and two over age 70. The most mature graduate of the evening, Carol Peet, 77, of Chico, graduated with an Associate in Science degree, in business/entrepreneurship. Carol has earned several degrees from Butte College and hopes to start a new business as a traveling tutor.

For more information about Butte College, visit 12d4.chriswaldegar.com.