Special to IFN

Mitchell Community College will honor its graduates of associate degree, diploma and certificate programs during the annual commencement exercises planned for May 13-21.

To accommodate all the College’s graduates and their guests, the curriculum graduation will be held on Saturday, May 16, at the Mooresville Performing Arts Center, located at 161 S. Magnolia Street in Mooresville.

Two ceremonies are scheduled: one at 9 a.m. and the other at 12 noon. Dr. James T. Brewer, president of Mitchell Community College, will preside.

This year’s commencement address will be delivered by Leyla Santiago, an award-winning journalist and educator whose career has spanned local, national, and international newsrooms. She now serves as a professor at the University of North Carolina Hussman School of Journalism and Media, where she mentors the next generation of storytellers and communicators.

Santiago spent nearly two decades reporting on some of the most consequential events shaping our world—and her journey began at a community college. She attended Santa Fe Community College before graduating from the University of Florida, a path that helped shape her perspective and passion for storytelling. She went on to become a national and international correspondent for CNN, where she covered major breaking news stories across the United States and Latin America. Her reporting has taken her from the frontlines of natural disasters, including hurricanes and wildfires, to the campaign trail during a presidential election, and into communities navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Santiago’s work has earned prestigious honors, including national Emmy awards and the Alfred I. duPont Award, considered the Pulitzer prize of broadcast journalism. She is widely recognized for bringing humanity and depth to complex stories and elevating voices that are underrepresented in national conversations.

Today, Santiago brings that same passion into the classroom, where she challenges students to report with curiosity, integrity, and empathy. As both a journalist and educator, she remains dedicated to elevating diverse voices and preparing future communicators to tell stories that matter—making her journey especially meaningful for graduates beginning their own.

Additional ceremonies honoring Mitchell graduates include:

♦ Wednesday, May 13 – Nursing Pinning Ceremony, 6 p.m. on the Circle, Mitchell Community College, Statesville Campus, 500 W. Broad Street.

♦ Thursday, May 14 – Agriculture and Science Early College High School Graduation, 5:30 p.m. at Buck Shoals Cabins, 2216 Buck Shoals Road, Hamptonville.

♦ Thursday, May 14 – High School Equivalency Diploma Graduation, 7 p.m. on the Circle, Mitchell Community College, Statesville Campus, 500 W. Broad Street.

♦ Friday, May 15 – Collaborative College for Technology and Leadership Early College High School Graduation, 2 p.m. on the Circle, Mitchell Community College, Statesville Campus, 500 W. Broad Street.

♦ Friday, May 15 – Crossroads Arts and Science Early College High School Graduation, 4:30 p.m. at Mac Gray Auditorium, Statesville High School, 474 N Center Street, Statesville.

♦ Thursday, May 21 – Basic Law Enforcement Training, 6 p.m. in Shearer Hall, 500 W. Broad Street.

LEARN MORE

For more information about Mitchell’s graduations, including live stream and rain location information, visit mitchellcc.edu/graduation-info.