Speaker to graduates: Fend off limits

COLUMBUS - The 91 students who received their diplomas or degrees were reminded to reach for their dreams at the Central Community College-Columbus commencement ceremony Friday.

Keynote speaker Ryan Downs, senior vice president of PayPal, told the graduates at the ceremony that, just as he did, they should pursue a career that makes them happy.

The Hershey native grew up working on his family farm. After graduating from Hershey High School, he attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and then received a law degree from Harvard Law School.

It was while he was growing up and later practicing law, Downs said, he learned valuable lessons, lessons that he shared with the crowd gathered at the physical education center.

The first lesson is you should never let other people or external circumstances set limits on what you can achieve. “No one determines what you can do with your life but you,” he said.

As he grew up in a small town in Nebraska, Downs' family went through financial hardships on their farm. But that didn't deter him from striving to be all that he could. He went on to get a degree in agricultural sciences at UNL in 1991 and then gained his juris doctorate degree from Harvard in 1994.

After spending a few years as a lawyer, Downs said he wasn't feeling fulfilled. That led him to speak about lesson two: it is important to pursue something you are passionate about.

He left his law career in 2000 and pursued a career in business. In 2001, he became involved in PayPal, an eBay company that allows individuals or businesses with an e-mail address to send and receive payments online.

The company has more than 130 million domestic and international accounts, and Downs is responsible for risk operations, merchant support, consumer support and payment operations.

His decision to switch careers is a move he said he has never regretted. “I wanted something that would make me want to get out of bed each morning,” Downs said.

He told the graduates that they can find that for themselves, too.

“When I say follow your passion, I mean just that. Follow your passion. My point is take your education, take your Nebraska work ethic and chase down your dream, wherever that takes you,” Downs said.

During the ceremony, Mike Fleming of Columbus was recognized with the Outstanding Alumni Award Recipient. Fleming graduated from the college in 1978 with an associate of applied science degree in business administration. He has been the owner and operator of Mike's Auto Sales & Towing since attending the college.

Fleming also shared some word of wisdom for the class of 2007 with a few “dos” and “don'ts” of his own.

For don'ts, Fleming told the graduates do not become involved with drugs or alcohol and not to ever give up on learning. On the flip side, Fleming said they should be determined in whatever it is they choose to do, have strong faith and become involved in their community through volunteering and community service.

Also recognized was math instructor Pat Marquis as the CCC-Columbus Faculty Member of the Year. Marquis has been at the college since 1992. The winner of the award is chosen by students.

Complete list of graduates

Forty-two members of the class achieved an accumulative grade-point average of 3.75 or higher during their college career and graduated with honors. Their names are preceded by an asterisk (*).

Recipients of degrees and diplomas were:

Associate of Applied Science Degree

BATTLE CREEK: Kristy L. Oldham, business administration;

BELLWOOD: Shannon D. Brown, early childhood education;

BRADSHAW: Krystal D. Collett, commercial art;

BROKEN BOW: Brett D. Olson, information technology;

BURWELL: Kimberly A. Lech, commercial art;

CEDAR RAPIDS: Jesse L. Schalk, business administration;

CENTRAL CITY: Dominic D. Zywiec, commercial art;

CLARKS: *Derek M. Veburg, drafting technology;

CLEARWATER: Aimee L. Hauf, early childhood education;

COLUMBUS: Stephanie A. Adams, Doug G. Batten, *Rae L. Berlie, Guillermo Casillas, Lindsay L. Johnson, Carrie E. Kubler, *Sharon L. Parten, Cari L. Reeder, Dustin J. Rohloff, *Lisa A. Schuettler, *Arlo W. Seitz, *Hilary A. Thompson, Matthew E. Wurdeman, *Sandra D. Zoucha and Bobby J. Zwiener, business administration; Kristina M. Girardin, *Sandra K. Keefover, Lisa A. Lawrence, Kelsey J. Lemp and Chelsea M. Wangler, business technology; *Jonathan A. Faltys, drafting technology; Lisa C. Ahlstrom, *Lindsey N. Styskal and *Susan J. Traub, early childhood education; *Sean M. Stradley and Corey A. Underdahl, electronics technology; *Aaron D. Brant, *Larry J. Haiar, John E. Jensen, Jaime E. Jimenez, Marc R. Lindahl and *Michael L. McDermott, industrial technology; *Jeff S. Littelman, information technology; Robert A. Bright III, machine tool technology; *Julie L. Shannon and *Barry J. VonSeggern, quality control; and Rosalio Arevalo, welding technology;

DAVID CITY: *Elizabeth A. Holland, agriculture occupations; Fred R. Ladehoff, electronics technology; and Kenneth E. Wellman, industrial technology;

GENEVA: Thomas A. Jones, electronics technology;

GENOA: Eric S. Czarnik, agriculture occupations, and *Carrie L. Brestel and Lorrie A. Foland, business administration;

GRAND ISLAND: *Julie A. Rican, business technology;

HASTINGS: Danielle J. Duester, business technology;

HOLSTEIN: *Audrey A. Churchill, commercial art;

HUMPHREY: *Robert J. Noonan, agriculture occupations; Jessica R. Wegener, business administration; and April L. Brozek, business technology;

LEIGH: Tricia F. Mullenhoff, business administration;

LINWOOD: Dustin D. Parolek, welding technology;

MADISON: *Leslie B. Kubes, drafting technology;

OSCEOLA: Christine M. Drott, business administration;

PETERSBURG: Veronica L. Olnes, drafting technology;

RICHLAND: Brian P. Wemhoff, paralegal studies;

ROGERS: *Roger L. Obershaw, electronics technology;

SCHUYLER: Brandi L. Wemhoff, business technology, and Melissa D. Kramar, commercial art;

SHELBY: Lynne M. Veburg, business administration, and *Adam G. Whitmore, electronics technology;

SHELTON: Daniel R. Brown, commercial art;

SILVER CREEK: *Daniel J. Micek, agriculture occupations, and Natasha M. Konwinski and Melissa A. Martin, business technology;

ST. EDWARD: Brenda L. Zierke, business technology.

Associate of Arts Degree

CLARKS: *Ryan J. Veburg;

COLUMBUS: Corey L. Adamy, Parker A. Cinfel, Elizabeth M. Degner, Samantha K. Elm, Elizabeth D. Fajman, Ryan T. Feehan, *Shelley R. Frear, Jennifer L. Gdowski, *Kristin E. Jones, Jill M. Konrad, Gerhardt M. Lux, *Jill L. Micek, Leah A. Parr, Jeanne M. Quinn, *April M. Seiler, *Trevor J. Shalon, *Marie A. Shanle, Jeffrey L. Siegel, Katie E. Sobota, Sandra L. Thiem and Carrie J. Vollbracht;

CRESTON: Bradley C. Crabtree and Nicole E. Wiemer;

DAVID CITY: Kristina B. Kramar and Randall R. Swartz;

FULLERTON: MaDonna McCray;

GRAND ISLAND: Michael E. Freelend;

GRESHAM: Karri L. Hood;

KEARNEY: Scott P. Amend and Amber D. Goos;

KENESAW: Maegan S. Blodgett;

LEIGH: Kristin A. Welsch;

OMAHA: *Julie A. Coan Prokupek;

PIERCE: Keo Rea Zierke;

SCHUYLER: Leonardo Fiallos;

YORK: Alissa J. Tonniges.

Associate of Science Degree

COLUMBUS: Corey L. Adamy, Stacey M. Bosak, Elizabeth A. Gdowski, William D. Hedlund, Amber M. Lueschen, Gerhardt M. Lux, Melissa K. Merrill, *Andrew J. Naylor, *Adam D. Sutton and *Heidi D. Zoucha;

FREMONT: Jenna L. Molle;

OMAHA: Jamie L. Moran;

OSCEOLA: Jessica L. Aase;

PIERCE: *Katie L. Volk.

Associate Degree in Nursing

CEDAR RAPIDS: *Annette L. Borer;

COLUMBUS: Darci A. McKelvey, Christopher G. Ullery and Andrea M. Voss;

DAVID CITY: Cheryl A. Darnell;

FREMONT: Melissa L. Carlson;

GRETNA: Trudy L. Svoboda;

SURPRISE: *Brandee B. Kohl;

SILVER CREEK: Miranda J. Wilcox.

Diploma

ALBION: Lisa A. Carey, practical nursing;

ALMA: Johanna K. Popple, business technology;

BATTLE CREEK; Christopher M. Hassler, machine tool technology;

BENEDICT: Jennifer R. Petro, commercial art;

CLARKSON: Jill A. Langhorst, practical nursing;

COLUMBUS: Jennifer A. Olson and Michael H. Schumacher, business administration; Marci B. Bunde, Forrest G. DeHaven and Pegge L. Tuma, business technology; Janis M. Beister, drafting technology; Patrick J. Tate, electronics technology; James J. Recek and Jose M. Velasco, information technology; *Michael L. McDermott, machine tool technology; and Kimberly J. Mercer, Heather L. Slizoski and Taylor M. Wegener, practical nursing;

CRESTON: Karen A. Peoples, practical nursing;

DAVID CITY: Debbie F. Dunham, information technology, and Dustie L. Hallett and Crystal L. Small, practical nursing;

GENOA: Michelle L. Hellbusch, practical nursing;

HOWELLS: Jessica A. Svoboda, business administration, and Carol R. Hegemann, practical nursing;

LINCOLN: Lisa M. Gleason, business technology;

OMAHA: Jennifer L. Lotspeich, practical nursing;

OSCEOLA: Amanda F. Rutter, practical nursing;

PLATTE CENTER: Thomas D. Heesacker, electronics technology, and Melissa A. Foltz and Suzanne M. Korus, practical nursing;

RISING CITY: Tracey J. Macken, Casey L. Nickolite and Laura R. Nickolite, practical nursing;

SCHUYLER: Efrain Rosas, business administration, and Angela M. Martinez, MaryLee E. Nelson and Lorah L. Stodieck, practical nursing;

SILVER CREEK: Theresa E. Martinez, business administration;

STUART: Lisa K. Korinko, practical nursing.