Cochise Newsroom

Nursing Pinning Ceremony set for May 15

 

Cochise College will celebrate its 60th commencement ceremony at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 16, at the Douglas Campus, where the college first opened its doors for classes in 1964.

 

Cochise College will award over 1300 diplomas and 870 certificates for the current academic year. About 400 graduates are expected to participate in the ceremony.

 

The nursing pinning ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 15, also on the Douglas Campus. About 40 nursing graduates will be recognized for earning their associate of applied science degree, making them eligible to take the exam to become a registered nurse.

 

"Cochise College serves as a vital resource to the communities we serve," said Dr. James Perey, president of Cochise College. "It's an honor to be part of this milestone as we celebrate 60 years of service and look ahead to a future focused on opportunity, growth, and meeting the evolving needs of Cochise County."

 

Commencement will feature faculty, staff and alumni marshals. Mike Hand ('81), Laura Howard Kull ('81), Jackie Howard Underwood ('78) and Donald L. Reay ('66) are the 2025 commencement alumni marshals.

 

Katelyn Wilkinson, graduating with an Associate of Applied Science in Professional Pilot Technology, will serve as this year's student speaker. A certified flight instructor at Cochise College, Wilkinson is the first pilot in her family and says her passion comes from teaching others to fly. She believes that "in each student there is value, in each challenge a lesson, and in each person a dream." 

 

The event will be live-streamed at www.cochise.edu, allowing friends and relatives to see everything from the processional to the last graduate crossing the stage. To accommodate the preparations for the event, offices at all campuses and centers will close at 3 p.m. on commencement day.

 

Motorists should be aware of heavier-than-usual traffic in the area. Those attending graduation will be directed by campus security.

 

Commencement exercises begin at 7 p.m., but the campus will start to fill with cars around 5 p.m. Both ceremonies will be tobacco-free, including e-cigarettes.

 

Since its founding in 1964 with 491 students, Cochise College has grown to serve more than 9,000 students annually. The 60th commencement marks a significant milestone in the college's legacy of providing inclusive and accessible educational opportunities that support social responsibility, community engagement, meaningful careers and lifelong learning.

 

For information and updates regarding this year's commencement, visit www.cochise.edu.