HCC recognizes Spirit Cup winner, over 800 credentials at Spring commencements

If there’s one thing you can trust for Spring to bring, it’s flowers, rain and graduations, and Hopkinsville Community College was no exception Friday, recognizing their graduates in two ceremonies.

It was a full house in the HCC Thomas L. Riley Lecture Hall, as family and friends crowded in to watch their loved ones cross that stage—and there were quite a few of them, as 383 students applied for 816 credentials. That includes in the Allied Health Division, Associate of Arts, Associates of Science, Associate of Applied Science, Nursing and Early College grads, as officials handed out degrees, diplomas and certifications.

Student Government Association President Jessica Jones told the graduates they should be very proud of their accomplishment, whether they’re just starting out on their life journey, or coming back later in the life to do something new.

HCC Professor of Mathematics Sherry McCormack encouraged them to always look on the bright side, learn from all experiences—even the bad ones—and go ahead and make your bed.

HCC President and CEO Dr. Alissa Young challenged the graduates to always keep learning, saying they’re honored to have been chosen for their education, and hopes they’ve instilled that love of learning.

Before handing out the diplomas, officials recognized active duty service members and their families, graduates who were the first to do so in their families, Early College graduates from Christian, Todd and Trigg Counties, students of high distinction and members of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges and Rotary Scholars.

Then, the prestigious Spirit Cup Award was presented to graduate Mary McGee. The Spirit Cup is a tradition that began at Bethel College and has continued at Hopkinsville Community College since 1967. The purpose of the award is to recognize the most outstanding graduate of HCC and faculty and staff nominate students and a committee of faculty and staff chooses the recipient.

Then, those higher education graduates took their hard-earned diplomas, and walked out the doors to face a bright, drive future.