Truckee Meadows Community College awarded 1,477 degrees and certificates to 1,174 students during the 2017-2018 academic year, including the College’s first two Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) graduates.
Commencement took place on Friday, May 11, beginning at 4:30 p.m. at Lawlor Events Center on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno.
The first TMCC bachelor’s degrees were awarded in two BAS programs which began in Fall Semester 2016.
James Scott Farmer received a Bachelor of Applied Science, Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Suzanne Leigh Rumbaugh accepted a Bachelor of Applied Science, Logistics Operations Management. Both of these students graduated with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.75 or higher.
- Bachelor’s Degrees: 2
- Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of General Studies, and Associate of Applied Science Degrees: 1,289
- Certificates of Achievement: 186
Close to 500 graduates participated in the ceremony on May 11.
- Seven percent of graduates are veterans, 78 received degrees or certificates
- Representing 10 countries, 13 international students graduated
- The youngest graduate is 17 and has earned an Associate of Arts
- The next youngest graduate was born the day before, also with an Associate of Arts Degree
- There are 48 TMCC High School graduates who, in addition, received associate degrees
- The oldest graduate is 77 years old, with an Associate of General Studies Degree
Awards at the Commencement Ceremony
Kimberly Tran has been named Regents’ Scholar for the 2017-2018 academic year.
Tran is completing her third and final year at TMCC as well as TMCC High School. She credits her achievement mindset to her father’s core principles of supporting family, working hard, being kind and adapting quickly to change.
She is the founder of the TMCC High School Academic Olympics Team, a library volunteer, and a peer math tutor.
Tran competed as a member of a Rover Team together with students from TMCC, Academy of Arts, Careers, and Technology, and TMCC High School in the NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge. The contest took place at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL in 2017. The AACT/TMCC team earned second place in the high school division, and third place overall for high schools and colleges. Tran, then Student Government Association (SGA) Senator At-Large was sub-captain of the AACT/TMCC team, Silver Wolves.
On the weekends, she volunteers at community events, such as the Alzheimer's Association Walk, the spelling bee at Rollan Melton Elementary School, and the Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful cleanup. In addition, she works 15 hours each week as an intern at the Desert Research Institute (DRI).
Tran was this year’s SGA President. She was also Salutatorian of TMCC High School. Tran is one of the five percent of total applicants accepted this year to Stanford University.
Faculty and Alumni received honors at Spring Commencement:
- Candace Nicol Garlock, Visual Arts Professor, accepted the Model Dairy TMCC Faculty Excellence in Service Award
- Meeghan Gray, Biology Professor, received the Reno Gazette-Journal TMCC Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award
- Christina Satterwhite, Ph.D., TMCC Alumna of the Year, was recognized for her contributions to TMCC and achievements in the Reno-Sparks community
For more information about TMCC’s graduation ceremony, please contact Marketing and Communications at 775-673-7087.