More than 400 graduate from MCTC

HUNTINGTON -- The student body at Marshall Community and Technical College is a bit different than the makeup found on a university campus.

MCTC, like similar institutions across the nation, offers certificate and associate degree programs that attract students from all walks of life. They are recent high school graduates ready to start a career; they are the stay-at-home moms heading back into the workforce; and they are those who are making career changes.

"I drove a truck for 20 years," said Prichard resident Earl Barker, who was one of more than 400 MCTC students who earned their diplomas Friday night at a ceremony held at the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center.

"After 20 years, I found out that I wasn't getting anywhere," Barker said. "All I did was work for a pay day."

It took the 44-year-old four years to complete, but he said he has at least two offers on the table to put his radiology degree to use.

"It's great," he said before walking into the auditorium to "Pomp and Circumstance."

"I've taken another step to a more secure life." he said.

Richelle Johnson, a 21-year-old from Chesapeake, said the graduation ceremony was important to her because it will enable her to start a career and means the fulfillment of a promise to her father.

"My father passed away last year, and I promised him I'd get a degree," she said. "It makes me really happy to know I did this for him."

During the commencement address by Robert Brown, the vice chair of the West Virginia Council for Community & Technical Education, graduates were urged to relish in the hard work it took to earn a degree. But he also said life isn't all about making money; it's also about the substance with which you live your life.

"You don't have to be a CEO to be a leader," Brown said. "Real leadership is marked by integrity, compassion and commitment. The bottom line is not just about making a profit."

For graduate Viola Mendez, who retired from General Motors in Teays Valley, earning a degree isn't about finding financial success. It is about finding success from within and proving that an education is available to anyone.

"It's never too late to get an education, regardless of how old you are," said Mendez, who plans to going back to school to earn a bachelor's degree. "Education is important, and everyone needs it."