Lamar Community College is pleased to announce Colorado Community Colleges Chancellor Joe Garcia will offer the keynote address and students James Moffett and Anamarija Mikovic will speak at its 80th Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 4 at 10 a.m. at the LCC Wellness Center.
“We are fortunate to have Chancellor Garcia leading our system,” said LCC President Dr. Linda Lujan. “He has a compelling personal story and is someone who cares deeply about student success for all students. We are honored to have him speak for our very special LCC milestone event.”
Chancellor Garcia has served in his current role with the Colorado Community College System since August 2018. As CCCS Chancellor, Garcia leads the state’s largest system of higher education, which serves 137,000 students annually at 13 colleges and 39 locations across Colorado.
Prior to his role at CCCS, Garcia served two years as President of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) from June 2016 to June 2018. From 2011 to 2016, he served as the Lt. Governor of Colorado and Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education. During his time as Lt. Governor, Garcia focused on increasing equity in outcomes for all students, particularly those from low income backgrounds and communities of color. Garcia has additionally spent nearly a decade of his career serving as a college president.
Over 200 degree or certificate- seeking students are eligible to walk in commencement, including fall 2018 graduates, as well as spring and summer 2019 candidates for graduation.
“Each year we gather to celebrate the academic achievements of our students, and each year, I am both
excited and in awe of the amazing accomplishments of our students,” said Lujan. “We cannot wait to celebrate our 80th Commencement Ceremony with them. When I consider all the lives LCC has enriched through learning over the past 80 years, I am so proud of the impact we’ve had on students, alumni, and our communities.”
Two students impacted by LCC are Moffett and Mikovic.
A native of Denver, Moffett came enrolled at LCC to play basketball and will graduate with an Associate of Science degree. He has served on LCC’s Student Government where he worked closely with student leaders, and is playing a large role in creating a new student orientation video LCC’s chapter of honor society, Phi Theta Kappa (PTK). Next year, he plans to basketball and study abroad, focusing on either international business or environmental science. As someone who grew up loving the outdoors, Moffett would eventually like to combine entrepreneurial skills and scientific knowledge to help the world economy move towards sustainability, and preserve the natural beauty he has been fortunate enough to experience for future generations.
Originally from a small town in Serbia, Mikovic enrolled at LCC on a volleyball scholarship. In addition to showing focus on the court and availing herself to every positive opportunity that comes her way, Mikovic has accumulated a 4.0 GPA and is working on the PTK orientation video with Moffett. Next year, she will attend the University of Texas at El Paso, where she will pursue her passions by studying marketing and finance and playing volleyball.
Additional special guests include, Dr. Byron McClenney, Chair of the Colorado State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education and internationally known community college expert; members of the LCC President’s Community College Circle; and members of the LCC Foundation Board.
A reception for graduates and their families will follow the celebration.
For more information about Commencement, contact Lamar Community College at
719.336.1590 or information@lamarcc.edu.