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Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Commencement Honors 518 Graduates For 2023

Six people standing in cap and gowns.

Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ (Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ) hosted the 2023 commencement ceremony Saturday at Bank OZK Arena. The College conferred 833 degrees and certificates to 518 graduates this year. This is the highest number of degrees and certificates conferred in the College’s history.

Six people stand in graduation cap and gowns in front of blue background with Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ logo on it.The College recognized the first cohort of graduates from the Bachelor of Science degree programs through a partnership with Southern Arkansas University this year, as well as graduates in Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµâ€™s apprenticeship programs.

Each year, the College’s honor society, Phi Theta Kappa, selects a student who exemplifies academic achievement, demonstrates personal advancement, and contributes to the overall spirit of the College to receive the Tom and Rachel Spencer Spirit of Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ Award. Jinny Winchell was awarded this year’s honor during Saturday’s commencement event.

Winchell immigrated to the United States with her parents when she was 18 years old. She studied cosmetology and worked as a hair designer for 27 years. In 2012, she had to quit working to care for her husband who had broken his back at work and had been diagnosed with cancer. At this time, she was also taking care of her father, who had also been diagnosed with cancer. She did all of this while continuing to raise her two children. Jinny’s father and husband both went into remission, but this experience instilled a passion in Jinny to care for others.

Winchell enrolled at Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ at the age of 42, after losing her job due to COVID-19. She graduated Saturday with a Technical Certificate in Pre-Nursing. Since she enrolled at Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ three years ago, she has earned a Technical Certificate in Practical Nursing, received her LPN license and is currently in the LPN to RN bridge program. Despite the challenges, she has succeeded while continuing to work to provide for her family. Through her journey at Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓÆµ, she has received the President’s Award for outstanding academic achievement several times and was the TRiO Student of the Year in 2022.

View a from the event.