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Commencement Speakers

Deb Miksa

Deb Miksa

Deb Miksa was raised in Marion, Iowa, and is a first-generation community college graduate. She received an Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Kirkwood Community College. After Kirkwood, she attended and graduated from the University of Iowa in 1996 with a degree in elementary education.

In 1997, she married Tony Miksa — the current JCCC president — and they moved to Illinois, where they lived for 19 years and raised their two children, Dalton and Delaney. They moved to Tennessee in 2016 and lived there for nine years. Their most recent move in June 2025 brought them back to the Midwest, where they’ve settled in Overland Park.

Throughout her career, Deb taught Pre-K, kindergarten, 2nd grade, K-8 visual art, and led an arts integration initiative in Pre-K- 5th grade. While living in Tennessee, she volunteered with many nonprofit organizations and committees, including a theater group, art museum, girls’ club, beautification organization, education initiative, college mentor program, food bank, and public art projects.

After moving to Kansas, she began volunteering at Growing Futures Early Education Center, Hillcrest Thrift Store, and Johnson County Aging and Human Services. She is excited to soon be a “big sister” with Big Brothers Big Sisters and is eager to begin several new volunteer opportunities with The Rabbit Hole and Cornerstones of Care.

Her greatest joys in life are spending time with family, helping children enjoy learning, and volunteering for key causes in her community. She believes small acts make big impacts and that we all have the ability to change the world, one good deed at a time. Her greatest accomplishments are raising her two children, teaching other people’s children, and being a helper.

Chastity Stemmons

Chastity Stemmons

Chastity Stemmons is graduating from Johnson County Community College with a degree in liberal arts with an emphasis in journalism. During her time at JCCC, she served as social media editor for The Messenger, managing and curating digital content and maintaining the publication’s online presence.

A dedicated mother of three, Chastity has balanced family, academics, and service with determination. She volunteers with Growth Ministries, Inc., a prison outreach organization, where she speaks and teaches in men’s and women’s correctional facilities, offering encouragement and hope. She has also worked with students in 34 schools across three states through her “I Like Being Me” program, empowering young people to embrace their identity and purpose.

For over a decade, Chastity has used her voice to uplift women and young girls as cohost of a radio show and through television appearances.

Proud to have completed her college education in her 50s, she plans to attend the University of Kansas to pursue a bachelor’s degree in journalism.