Zora Mulligan, Missouri Commissioner of Higher Education, will give the keynote address at the State Fair Community College’s commencement at 7 p.m. May 12 in the Mathewson Exhibition Center on the Missouri State Fairgrounds.
Mulligan was appointed Commissioner of Higher Education by the Coordinating Board for Higher Education in August 2016. She previously worked as chief of staff for the University of Missouri System (2014-2016), executive director of the Missouri Community College Association (2010-2014), assistant commissioner and general counsel for the Missouri Department of Higher Education (2007-2010), and assistant attorney general for the Missouri Attorney General’s Office (2003-2007).
A native of West Plains, Missouri, Mulligan received her juris doctorate and master’s degrees from the University of Kansas and her bachelor’s degree from Drury College.
Dr. Kristee Lorenz, Henry County R-1 School District superintendent, has been named SFCC’s 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. She will address the graduates.
Lorenz, a Sedalia resident, graduated from SFCC in 1986 with an Associate of Arts and earned a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1988 from University of Central Missouri (UCM). Lorenz taught social studies, speech and theatre at Sacred Heart High School for two years and at La Monte High School for three years, and she taught social studies for one year at Knob Noster High School.
In 1994, Lorenz earned a Master of Science in Counseling from UCM and moved from the classroom at Knob Noster High School to serve as the counselor for 11 years. In 1999, she earned an Education Specialist in Human Services from UCM.
Lorenz became the assistant principal at Smith-Cotton High School in 2005 and served in that position six years. In 2010, she earned an Education Doctorate in Educational Leadership from St. Louis University. From 2011-2012, she was the director of District Education Support for the Sedalia School District 200 and took the reigns as superintendent of the Knob Noster R-VIII School District from 2014-2016. Lorenz is now the superintendent of the Henry County R-I School District in Windsor.
For 29 years Lorenz has touched the lives of thousands of students, mentored hundreds of teachers and support staff and inspired others to become dedicated educators. Peers describe her as a lifelong learner, a hard worker, goal-oriented, and effective communicator who attributes the foundation of her success to the education she received at SFCC.
As of May 1, 727 degrees and certificates are projected to be awarded to 657 candidates for graduation, including 355 Associate of Arts degrees, 30 Associate of Arts in Teaching degrees, 12 Associate of Science degrees, 203 Associate of Applied Science degrees, 87 Professional Certificates, and 40 Skills Certificates.
The numbers include students who attend SFCC on the Sedalia campus and at locations in Boonville, Clinton, Eldon, Lake of the Ozarks, Whiteman Air Force Base, and online. More than 160 students plan to walk in the ceremony.
A commencement and pinning ceremony for Allied Health graduates will be held at 2 p.m. May 12 in the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center on the Sedalia campus. Dr. Douglas Kiburz will give the commencement address.
Kiburz is an orthopedic surgeon who has practiced in Sedalia more than 30 years and serves on the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Board of Counselors, the Missouri Valley College Board of Trustees and the Missouri State Orthopedic Association Board of Directors.
A total of 155 Allied Health students are expected to receive degrees or certificates in these programs: Associate Degree Nursing, 63; Practical Nursing, 56; Dental Hygiene, 11; Diagnostic Medical Sonography, nine; Radiologic Technology, 10; and Medical Assisting, six.
SFCC’s Adult Education and Literacy graduation will be held at 1 p.m. May 13 in the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center. Participants who have passed the High School Equivalency exam and who have earned their United States citizenship will be recognized.
