Special to Iredell Free News
Mitchell Community College will honor over 700 graduates with an associate degree, diploma and/or certificates during the annual commencement exercises planned for this May. To accommodate all of the graduates and their guests, the curriculum graduation will be held on Saturday, May 11, at the Mooresville Performing Arts Center, located at 160 S. Magnolia Street in Mooresville.
Two ceremonies will be held with the first beginning at 9 a.m. and the other at 12 noon. Dr. James T. Brewer, president of Mitchell Community College, will preside.
Dr. Jeff Cox, the eleventh president of the N.C. Community College System and a lifelong champion of North Carolina public education, will deliver the graduation address.
Prior to leading the system, Cox served as the president of Wilkes Community College from 2014 to 2023. Beginning his career as a high school teacher and coach, he formerly served in administrative roles for Alleghany County, Lee County and Union County school districts.
In 2017, Cox was awarded an Aspen Institute Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence. He was one of 40 college leaders in the country selected for this prestigious program through a rigorous process that considered candidates’ abilities to take strategic risks, lead strong teams, cultivate partnerships, and focus on results-oriented improvements for greater student success and access.
In 2001, Cox earned his Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He also has a Master’s in School Administration and a bachelor’s degree in English—Secondary Education, both of which he earned from Appalachian State University. Cox and his wife Reba have three sons, Dylan, Evan, and Zach, and four dogs.
Additional ceremonies honoring Mitchell graduates include:
♦ Wednesday, May 8: Nursing Pinning Ceremony – 6 p.m. on the Circle, Statesville Campus, 500 W. Broad Street, Statesville;
♦ Thursday, May 9: Culinary Arts Ceremony – 5:30 p.m. in the Executive Training Center, Continuing Education/Workforce Development Campus Location, 701 W. Front Street, Statesville;
♦ Thursday, May 9: Basic Law Enforcement Training Graduation Ceremony – 6 p.m. in the Continuing Education Center Auditorium, 701 W. Front Street, Statesville;
♦ Thursday, May 9: High School Equivalency Diploma Graduation – 7 p.m. on the Circle, Statesville Campus, 500 W. Broad Street, Statesville;
♦ Friday, May 10: Collaborative College for Technology and Leadership Early College High School Graduation – 2 p.m. on the Circle, Statesville Campus, 500 W. Broad Street, Statesville;
♦ Friday, May 10: Medical Assisting Pinning Ceremony – 6 p.m. in Shearer Hall, Statesville Campus, 500 W. Broad Street, Statesville; and
♦ Friday, May 10 – Basic Firefighter Training Graduation Ceremony – 6:30 p.m. in the Continuing Education Center Auditorium (701 W. Front St., Statesville)
The rain location for all graduations to be held on the Circle will be Shearer Hall on the Statesville Campus.
REGISTRATION
If you are a graduate and would like more information or to register to participate in the Curriculum Graduation, visit mitchellcc.edu/graduation-info.
