Johnson County Community College
Press Release
College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122
4/13/07
Story by Peggy Graham
JCCC Announces Graduation Schedule
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Johnson County Community College will have its commencement exercises at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 18, in the Gymnasium. Rod Risley, executive director, Phi Theta Kappa, will be the speaker. The GED graduation is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, in the Gymnasium. Staff Sgt. Dale McKee, U.S. Army, will be the keynote speaker.
Other graduations:
• Respiratory Care, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, Polsky Theatre
• Nursing Pinning, 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, Yardley Hall
• Honors Graduation, 7 p.m. Thursday, May 17, room 211 of the Carlsen Center
• Dental Hygiene, 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 17, Polsky Theatre
• Cosmetology, 7:30 p.m.Tuesday, May 22, Polsky Theatre
• LPN Pinning, 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, Polsky Theatre
A reception follows each graduation.
For more information about commencement exercises, contact the Student Information Desk at 913-469-3807.
• Risley Speaks at JCCC Commencement
Executive Director of Phi Theta Kappa Rod Risley will be the speaker for JCCC's commencement. Risley was PTK's national president in 1974-75 while a student at San Jacinto College, Texas, where he earned his bachelor's degree. He joined PTK's headquarters staff in 1977 as director of alumni affairs and became associate director in 1982. In 1985, he was named the second-ever executive director for the society. Under his leadership PTK, the international honor society of the two-year college, as experienced unparalleled growth, expanding from 550 chapters to more than 1,200.
Chapters have been chartered in all 50 states, U.S. Territories, Canada, Germany, the British Virgin Islands, Republics of Palau, Micronesia and Marshall Islands, and United Arab Emirate. The society inducts nearly 100,000 students annually and is the largest honor society in higher education in terms of chapters and number of members. Risley helped conceive and launch PTK's nationally acclaimed Leadership Development Studies Program, All-USA Academic Team for Community Colleges, All-State Academic Team program and Guistwhite Scholarship program.
Under Risley, procurement of scholarship funds for PTK members has been a top priority. Today, more than 600 four-year colleges and universities offer $36 million in scholarships exclusively for PTK members. Risley leads a staff of 70 at the PTK headquarters located in Jackson, Miss.
• Speaker Knows GED Firsthand
Staff Sgt. Dale McKee, speaker for the GED graduation, has a close association with Project Finish, sponsored by JCCC and the Johnson County Library. “I am not talking about the benefits of the Army at the GED graduation,” McKee said. “I am talking about the accomplishments I'e had as a result of earning my GED.” In his job as an Army recruiter in Olathe, McKee sees to it that recruits have the necessary qualifications –including a GED –to go on to active service. If lacking the prerequisites, “future soldiers,” as McKee prefers to call recruits, are directed to the Olathe Center Project Finish to complete their GED preparation and tests. “I can't say enough good things about the teachers and staff at Project Finish,” McKee said. “They are not judgmental. They are very respectful and supportive of everybody.”
A native of Baxter Springs, he was 20 before he completed a GED while working as a car mechanic in Chicago. When McKee decided to pursue a career in law enforcement, he earned an associate's degree in criminal justice from Labette Community College, Parsons. An investigator for the city of Parsons encouraged McKee to join the military police. So at age 26, McKee enlisted in the Army to help with his career and pay off student loans. That was 10 years ago, and McKee has served at U.S. bases and been deployed twice – to Bosnia in 1998 and to Qatar in 2003. He will serve 36 months as a recruiter and is in the process of applying to be an agent in the Army Criminal Investigation Division.
“I am honored to be the speaker at JCCC's GED graduation,” he said.
