GCC graduate praises community college education

By CHARITY SMITH

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Ironwood — Gogebic Community College commencement speaker Rylee Nicoletti, a member of the Class of 2021, talked about how she learned the value of a community college education as she spoke at the college’s 87th annual commencement ceremony held virtually Friday night.

“When I was about to graduate high school I wanted a nose piercing, but I wasn’t 18; so of course, I needed my parents’ permission. It was a hard and definite ‘no,’” said the high honors graduate in applied science from Port Wing, Wisconsin, as she began her speech.

Her parents told her the piercing would look bad at job interviews, is not professional, and that people would judge her for it. Nicoletti said they also asked if this was something she would want for the rest of her life, what people would think of her, and if there wasn’t a better alternative.

Nicoletti then drew parallels with her decision to attend a community college.

“All of those comments and questions were also said to me about attending a community college,” said Nicoletti, adding other graduates must have heard some of the same.

Nicoletti confessed that at one point she too thought negatively about small colleges and never thought she would be attending one. But, she said, her time at GCC has opened her eyes to the value of a small college education.

“I’ve met people on a team here that have stayed family. I met people that showed me that the Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin is not all there is to the world,” Nicoletti said. “All of my professors know me by name and not just a number or a grade. They push you to be the best you can be no matter the circumstances.”

Nicoletti said that she was given “more than enough” resources to succeed and opportunities at GCC and would not have been able to get them anywhere else.

“I have had one of the best experiences of my life here and I believe all of my classmates can agree,” she said.

Nicoletti was one of 38 students who graduated with high honors, meaning a grade point average of 3.75 or higher. Forty-one students graduated with honors — a grade point average of 3.5 to 3.74.

The college awarded 174 degrees: including 29 Associate of Arts, 52 Associate of Applied Science, seven Associate of Applied Business, seven Associate of Applied Technology, eight Associate of Science degrees, and 71 Certificates of Completion.

The ceremony was broadcast on YouTube and included congratulatory offerings by U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabnow, state Sen. Ed McBroom and state Rep. Greg Markkanen, along with remarks by GCC President George McNulty and John Lupino, president of the college board of trustees.

McNulty stressed that all GCC graduates share the common trait of persistence. He said this is the most important factor in success.

“Persistence involves being outcome-driven, having vision, the ability to adapt,” he said. “You have persevered through a pandemic and you’ve emerged stronger, wiser and bolder for it.”

McNulty said commencement is a time to celebrate student success.