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2,000+ new alumni in 2025: Metropolitan Community College celebrates commencement

May 30, 2025 | Tim Engle
Commencement
Angie McElhaney, recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award (second from left) with MCC Chancellor Kimberly Beatty (from left), Board of Trustees President Chris Benjamin and MCC Foundation board chair-elect Tammy Edwards

Metropolitan Community College’s Class of 2025 received fond sendoffs at commencement May 22, with two ceremonies at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence. The 6 p.m. program drew around 600 graduates and 4,500 guests, while the earlier 1 p.m. ceremony hosted 300 grads and about 2,500 family members and friends.

In all, 2,141 MCC students were candidates for graduation, earning 2,567 credentials: associate degrees and certificates.

The event also featured moments of recognition and remembrance. Angie McElhaney, who attended MCC-Penn Valley and is now chief financial officer for Mark One Electric, was honored with the MCC Foundation’s 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award.

And in an historic first, the College posthumously awarded an honorary degree — an associate of humanity — to Rafael Hines, a community mentor and advocate for youth who passed away in 2021. Mr. Hines was just shy of completing an MCC associate in arts degree. His family accepted the honor on his behalf.

Candidates for graduation included those who completed studies last fall or this spring, or will finish up this summer. More grad stats for the MCC Class of 2025:

  • Female graduates: 1,316 (61%). Male: 806 (38%). These lopsided female-to-male numbers reflect a national trend on college campuses.
  • Age breakdown: 20 and younger, 45%. 21-29, 38%. 30-39, 11%. 40 and older, 6%
  • 151 (7%) graduated with high honors (3.9-4.0 GPA); 420 (20%) graduated with honors (3.5-3.8 GPA)
  • 66 are members of the academic honor society Phi Theta Kappa
  • 42 graduated with both their high school and MCC diplomas this year, thanks to collegiate academy programs.
  • 97 are military veterans.
  • Of the degrees awarded, the most popular was (as usual) MCC’s associate in arts transfer degree: 1,367 students graduated with their A.A.
  • Second place in degrees: the associate in applied science, 469
  • This year 236 students earned 252 career and technical education certificates, in fields such as HVAC, welding and lineman.

MCC Chancellor Kimberly Beatty led the ceremonies, with Trustee Jermaine Reed serving as master of ceremonies.

>> Visit mcckc.edu/commencement to view the printed program, video recordings of the 1 and 6 p.m. ceremonies, and photos from the day.

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