JWCC Forty-Ninth Annual Commencement Ceremony

College Confers First Honorary Degree to Jim Rapp as part of 50^th Anniversary Celebration

John Wood Community College held its forty-ninth annual commencement ceremony on Friday, May 17, at 6:00 p.m. in the Student Activity Center on the Quincy Campus at 48^th and Harrison.

JWCC conferred 322 associate degrees, 201 certificates and 6 College for Life certificates. Dr. Bryan Renfro, JWCC president, conferred degrees and certificates and Mr. Bob Rhea, chair of the JWCC Board of Trustees, accepted candidates as graduates.

As part of the College’s yearlong 50^th anniversary celebration, Mr. James A. (Jim) Rapp received JWCC’s first honorary degree.  The degree was conferred in recognition of his longstanding service as JWCC’s legal counsel and his commitment to education and the mission of community colleges.

Ms. Grace Meyer of Quincy delivered the invocation.  She was a member of Campus Crusade for Christ, Theatre Guild, JWCC Cheer Team, and the Student Government Association. She is active in the Quincy community through Girl Scouts, St. Francis Catholic Church, and the Quincy Humane Society.  Meyer earned a College for Life certificate and plans to work in a local veterinary clinic.

Mr. Luka Bagi of Bedford, England, Kaydence Gregory of Bluffs, and Alisha Skwara of Quincy delivered the student address. Bagi was a member of the men’s soccer team, Phi Theta Kappa honor society and Student Government Association. He was a student worker with JWCC’s maintenance and grounds team and also served as JWCC’s mascot, Woody the Trail Blazer. He earned an Associate in Arts Degree with high honors and transfer to Knox College to study international business and continue his soccer career.

Gregory was a 2022-24 Trail Blazer scholar, served as JWCC’s Student Trustee for the 2022-23 academic year, and was a member of Student Government Association and TRiO. She also served as a student worker for JWCC’s Student Life Office.  She earned an Associate in Arts Degree and will transfer to Western Illinois University to major in communication with a minor in event planning and management.

Swkara was a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society and an ambassador for the JWCC nursing program. She earned an Associate in Applied Science Degree in nursing with high honors in December 2023.  She is currently working as a nurse focused on dementia and hospice care.

Mr. Avery Hayes of Palmyra, Missouri, and Mr. Brooks Sonethongkham of Quincy delivered closing remarks. Hayes was a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society and earned an Automation & Robotics Technician certificate in December 2022. He continued his education and earned both an Engineering Design-SolidWorks certificate and an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Manufacturing Technology in December 2023.  Avery received highest honors and excellence with his degree and certificates.

Sonethongkham participated in JWCC’s Smart Start Concurrent Enrollment program and earned both his high school diploma from Quincy Senior High School and an Associate in Science Degree with high honors. He is an avid chess player at the Quincy Chess Club, St. Louis Chess Club, and QHS Chess Club, which he founded. Sonethongkham will transfer to the University of Missouri to study computer science.

Dr. Steven Soebbing, JWCC chair and associate professor, fine arts, humanities and education, played processional and recessional selections and led the JWCC Choir in performing the National Anthem.

2024 JWCC graduates by reported hometown in alphabetical order are as follows: