SLCC To Host First Graduation Since Merger With ATC

South Louisiana Community College will hold its fall commencement exercises at 7 p.m. this Thursday, December 13th at the Cajundome Convention Center.  More than 300 students are expected to graduate.  This is be the first graduation ceremony since South Louisiana CommunityCollege and Acadiana Technical College merged July 1st of this year. The merger happened after the Legislature moved to combine the institutions, and Governor Bobby Jindal signed it into law after the 2012 legislative session.

“This semester’s graduation ceremony will be an exciting celebration,” said Dr. Natalie Harder, chancellor of South Louisiana Community College. “Not only are we celebrating another group of high-quality, workforce-ready graduates, but we are also celebrating our first graduation since our merger.”

This year's commencement speaker is Sharon Moss the owner and president of Lafayette-based Moss Motors.  Moss has been in the automotive field since she was a teenager, and has worked to bring her late father’s automobile dealership into a new era.

“I am very honored to speak to the students who will become a vital part of Acadiana’s community and do great things,” shares Moss. “Any words of wisdom I could share with these graduates about life, hard work, and success would be an incredible pleasure.”

Moss says she believes in giving back to her community, and she does so by serving on many nonprofit boards such as:

• The Acadiana Arts Council
• American Cancer Society
• University of Louisiana Foundation
• Smith Family Teen Center
• Acadiana Symphony Women's League
• University Art Museum
• Hospice of Acadiana
• Acadiana Cares
• Spay & Neuter Clinic
• Women's Leadership Council

Chancellor of South Louisiana Community College Natalie Harder, along with the school’s administration and campus leaders, will give out the degrees.  Harder will also honor students who have the highest overall grade point averages with the college’s Academic Excellence Award.