Yavapai College will hold its spring commencement ceremony for the Prescott area on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. at the Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley.
More than 350 graduates who completed their degree or certificate in fall 2022 or are on track to complete in spring 2023 or summer 2023 are expected to attend.
Overall, 620 YC students are on track to complete 807 degrees and certificates this spring. Additionally, 448 students completed 544 degrees and certificates last fall.
Honorable J. Mitch Padilla, Justice of the Peace, Prescott, and former District Governing Board member of Yavapai College, will address the graduates and guests as the keynote speaker.
Other speakers include Ms. Marie Hardman, Yavapai College Allied Health Professor, and graduating student Ms. Jamie Oltersdorf.
Students and parents are encouraged to use the hashtag #YCGradJoy on social media to share their photos and celebrate with the college.
Live streaming of the ceremony will be available at www.yc.edu.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Honorable J. Mitchell Padilla joined the United States Navy out of high school and later received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) degree from Chapman University; a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of San Diego; and a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law. Mr. Padilla founded My College Roadmap, LLC, for students who need help preparing, applying, and paying for college. Prior to being elected as the Prescott Justice of the Peace, he served as a Yavapai College District Governing Board Member.
FACULTY SPEAKER
Ms. Marie Hardman grew up in Maine. She worked as a Registered Nurse for 15 years before earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Master’s of Science in Adult Education, and a Master’s of Science in Nursing Education. Marie moved to Arizona to teach at Yavapai College in 2009, where she has taught hundreds of Nursing and Allied Health students as the lead faculty for the Medical Assistant program. After 14 years at Yavapai College, Marie has moved back to the northeast.
STUDENT SPEAKER
Ms. Jamie Oltersdorf is the President of the Yavapai College Student Government Association and a proud veteran. Jamie completed an Associate of Arts degree in 2022. This year she is set to complete an Associate of Arts in Fine Art degree with the goal of becoming an art therapist. Jamie intends to continue at Yavapai College pursuing the newly offered Bachelor of Science degree.
