Barton County Community College

The document records the proceedings of the Barton Community College Fort Riley Campus 2024 Combined Graduation Ceremony. Key elements included acknowledgments of distinguished guests, remarks by the Garrison Commander Colonel Michael J. Foot concerning the Army's motto "be all you can be" and the significance of academic achievement, and speeches from representatives of partnering educational institutions including Upper Iowa University and Barton Community College. The ceremony celebrated the awarding of numerous degrees and certificates to soldiers, retirees, veterans, family members, and civilian employees, emphasizing resilience, lifelong learning, and leadership.

The document appears to be a transcript or notes from the Barton EMS Education Paramedic Cording Ceremony. Key discussions involved reflecting on the resilience of the December graduating class, particularly how they navigated challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including shifts to online learning and cohort separations between Grandview Plaza and Great Bend groups. Instructors, Carol White and Andrew Hartzel, detailed the difficulties overcome by the students, such as delays in the schedule which they managed to recover from, and the successful completion of required clinical hours and team leads. The presentation included acknowledgments of the supporting staff and emphasized the importance of service, lifelong learning, and prioritizing family and friends over career commitments. Attendees were also warned about the demanding nature of the paramedic profession.

This document provides a historical overview of Barton's 40-year journey, highlighting its growth and evolution. It details significant developments, including the establishment of partnerships like the one with Fort Riley, the expansion of online learning initiatives, the philanthropic efforts of the Barton Foundation, and the development of campus facilities such as housing and student activity centers. The narrative emphasizes Barton's commitment to delivering accessible and affordable educational opportunities, supporting community development through cultural and athletic activities, and meeting regional workforce demands, thereby improving lives and strengthening the communities it serves over four decades.

The event was an honors celebration dedicated to recognizing the success of honor graduates. A psychology instructor delivered an address highlighting attributes of successful students, such as above-average intelligence, consistent attendance (showing up), strong motivation, the ability to postpone gratification, and strong self-management skills. The address also emphasized the importance of community and support networks. Following this, the Vice President of Instructional and Support Services provided an official welcome, stressing the commitment to learning and the role staff play in student success. A guest speaker, a math instructor, provided detailed advice on securing a dream job, focusing on analyzing job descriptions, strategically framing past work experience (including non-traditional roles like cooking and tutoring) to meet stated requirements (like years of teaching experience), and preparing thoroughly for interview questions, particularly regarding strengths, weaknesses, and asking insightful questions about the company and community.

The document records the joint PTK Honors Ceremony for the Beta New Row and the Beta Phi Ada chapters. The event included welcoming attendees joining in person and via Zoom from various locations, including the Fort Leavenworth campus. A Vice President delivered an address emphasizing student achievement, leadership skills, and service contributions, offering advice on maintaining a learning attitude, valuing hard work, participating actively in life, leaning into relationships, maintaining a holistic perspective, visualizing future opportunities, embracing character traits such as perseverance and integrity, managing energy and curiosity, practicing self-management, soaking up the current celebratory moment, remembering one's support system (fan club), and stopping to reflect and appreciate successes. Another speaker provided historical context on the PTK organization, noting the establishment of the three local chapters at Fort Riley, Bart Online, and Fort Leavenworth, and highlighting induction statistics.