By BETH ZUMWALT & DAVID CAMPHOUSE
Submitted photo
Kaydence Gregory was one of three JWCC students to address graduates and other attendees at JWCC’s 49th annual commencement ceremony. Gregory was a 2021 graduate of Bluffs.
John Wood Community College recently held its 49th annual commencement ceremony in the Student Activity Center on the College’s Quincy Campus at 48th and Harrison.
JWCC conferred 322 associate degrees, 201 certificates and six College for Life certificates. Dr. Bryan Renfro, JWCC president, conferred degrees and certificates and Mr. Bob Rhea, chair of the JWCC Board of Trustees, accepted candidates as graduates.
Luka Bagi of Bedford, England, Kaydence Gregory of Bluffs, and Alisha Skwara of Quincy delivered the student address.
Gregory was a 2021 graduate of Bluffs High School.
While at JWCC, Gregory was a 2022-24 Trail Blazer scholar, a member of Student Government Association and TRiO, and served as a student worker for JWCC´s Student Life Office.
During the 2022-23 academic year, Gregory was elected to serve as JWCC´s Student Trustee.
Gregory said she became interested in student government and the governance of the college as a whole since when she started taking classes in-person at the Quincy campus.
“I’ve been interested in a higher level of involvement since I got on campus,” Gregory said shortly after being elected as Student Trustee. “My first semester was all online.”
“As student trustee I thought I’d be able to benefit the whole student body. I can offer a voice and offer my opinion on behalf of the students.”
She earned an Associate in Arts Degree and will transfer to Western Illinois University to major in communication with a minor in event planning and management.
Other Scott County graduates were: Aspen Nicole Mueller and Maeleigh Alexander, Bluffs; Ashleigh Ferneyhough, Naples; and Lindsay Rivera of Winchester.
