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students wearing regalia at commencement ceremony
May 7, 2023
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NBC Montana

FVCC to Celebrate 55th Commencement Ceremony

By NBC Montana Staff

Flathead Valley Community College will celebrate its 55th commencement ceremony this Friday.

FVCC expects to honor 268 graduating students who are earning 288 degrees and certificates.

The ceremony will take place in the Wachholz College Center's McClaren Hall on FVCC's campus in Kalispell.

FVCC released the following details:

Flathead Valley Community College is set to celebrate the class of 2023 at its 55th annual commencement on Friday, May 12.

Commencement will take place in Wachholz College Center’s McClaren Hall on FVCC’s Kalispell campus to celebrate 268 students earning 288 degrees and certificates.

Also set to be honored are nine nursing graduates at the nursing pinning ceremony held in the Arts & Technology Building, Room 139 at 3pm.

Every year, FVCC graduates go on to pursue bachelor’s degrees and careers in the workforce. Many become leaders in industry, in their chosen field of research, and in their local communities. No matter what direction students take upon graduating from FVCC, each is poised to advance with competitive knowledge and skills to succeed.

For a group of twenty Columbia Falls High School students, that means graduating high school with a diploma this year while earning a certificate in welding from FVCC at the same time. FVCC’s Running

Start program for high school juniors and seniors made it possible for these young graduates to go immediately into the workforce in high-paying careers.

In her late 20s, Tyla Difeo realized her passion for the study of biology when she started taking classes at FVCC. Thanks to inspiring faculty and undergraduate research opportunities, she will graduate with an Associate of Science along with the skills and knowledge to help her succeed as she transfers to pursue a four-year degree at University of Montana, then a master’s degree and possibly on to medical school.

“You don’t have to be fresh out of high school to start a new careerI think it’s the best thing I’ve chosen to do,” Difeo explains.

Another FVCC graduate is Mary Tirman, 82 years young and a humble seeker of education in every one of life’s stages. She selflessly put her education on hold early on while encouraging her sons through high school and college, and will tell you earning her Associate of Arts is for her family.

“You can’t do anything about your age, but you can do something about how you live your life,” she says.

FVCC is proud to honor the class of 2023 in their pursuit of knowledge, their hours of hard work, and their dedication that has led to Friday’s ceremonies.

Anyone can livestream the 55th annual commencement by visiting FVCC’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/flatheadvalleycc or Facebook page @fvccmt or facebook.com/fvccmt.