Big Bend holds graduation ceremony

MOSES LAKE - Big Bend Community College celebrated its 49th annual commencement ceremony Friday.

"It is our largest graduating class ever," BBCC President Bill Bonaudi told the graduating class of 2011.

Over 500 degrees were awarded, he said. Thirty-four high school students graduated with Associate degrees through the Running Start program, more than the school's ever had, he said. The oldest graduate was 69 years old, the youngest 17. And graduates attended from Japan, California, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada and Oregon, and from 52 cities and towns throughout Washington state.

"When we put that all together we can see that Big Bend is truly a community resource for everyone," said Bonaudi.

Kelly Graves, head coach for Gonzaga University's women's basketball team, whose first coaching job was at Big Bend Community College, delivered an address to students relating his own experiences in Moses Lake.

"It was the best move I ever made as a professional coach," he said of his time at BBCC. "I loved Moses Lake. I was here about three and a half years. I loved Big Bend Community College."

Graves said he wanted to leave the students with three concepts that would help them in life: vision, mission and passion.

"When we speak of vision, we speak in terms of, who are you? What do you want to do with your life? Who do you want to be? What are your goals? Right now I think that this is an important time for each and every one of you to ask: what's next?"

His first year at Gonzaga University was a struggle, he said.

"I started questioning myself and questioning my abilities as to whether I was an asset as a Division I coach. And then I came back and remembered my days here at Big Bend. I had done this before, I had started from scratch. We had built something that was meaningful, and that's what we began to do at Gonzaga. I think this is a great training ground. I hope it is for you as well."

Mission helps one achieve their vision, Graves said.

"Be ready for any opportunity that may come your way," he said. "Be flexible. Be willing to work for free to at least get that foot in the door. It's tough out there right now. You need to be flexible. Good things will happen."

Last on his list was passion.

"And perhaps this is what I feel is the most important," he said. "How bad do you want whatever you said is your vision? How far will you go to get it? How much effort will you put in to make it happen? Will you work harder than the next guy? ... When I speak in terms of passion with my team I use words like commitment, determination, sacrifice, work ethic, dedication and belief in yourself. Maybe the greatest thing that you can have internally is a belief in yourself and your own abilities. Never lose that."

Associated Student Body President John Buhler spoke next about the importance of developing talents.

"Talent is a special or natural ability that you have that sets you apart from others," he said, later adding, "Each and every one of us has talents, whether we're born with them or developing them every day."

Jason Bye, 21, of Ephrata, enjoyed his time at BBCC so much that he's coming back for more.

"I'm actually going to be coming back for another program," he said. "I just got a degree in industrial electricity and now what I'm going to do is go for engineering."

After that, he plans to transfer to a university, possibly Washington State University.

"I really like how it's kind of a good college, but it's got a small town atmosphere," Bye said of BBCC. "I've added a lot of friends and the teachers are really nice."

Kaela Schachtschneider, 23, of Moses Lake, had difficulty choosing one word to describe how she felt about graduating.

"It feels amazing, thrilling and exciting. Invigorating," she said. "My education was great ... The advisors are amazing and the teachers really know what they're teaching. They teach you stuff that you're definitely going to use out in the real world. It's very challenging, but challenging in a good way, to make us work for what we're getting."

She plans to complete the children's studies program at Eastern Washington University.