Kelsey Park has never been much of a "girly girl." She spent most of her childhood years tinkering with things, taking objects apart and figuring out how to put them back together again and she felt right at home at the hardware store.

So it was no surprise that after a few short stints in the retail and food service industries, she landed a job at Home Depot in Coeur d'Alene on a shift with nearly all men.

"I really thought I'd work there my whole life - that's where it felt right to be," Park said.

But last year, Park's younger brother Seth decided to enroll in the Diesel Technology program at North Idaho College and encouraged her to go to school with him. Her brother's aspirations to earn a technical certificate inspired her to enroll in college as well, nearly four years after graduating from high school in Rathdrum.

Park did a little research and liked what she read about the machining industry: Competitive rate of pay and entry level jobs in high demand across the region and nation. She also read that only 2 percent of machinists are women, but going against the grain was something Park had never shied away from.

She enrolled in the Machine Technology program at NIC in 2010, the only female in the class of 14.

"People always ask me why I chose machining, and that's really just it - I didn't even know what it was going to be like and at first. I thought 'There's no way I'm going to make it,'" Park said.

But she did.

After 10 months, Park recently completed a technical certificate in Machine Technology, qualifying her for employment in the machining industry. And she has already been hired as an entry-level machinist at a manufacturing company in Washington.

Park is one of approximately 900 students eligible for graduation from NIC this year. The commencement program will take place at 10 a.m. today in NIC's Christianson Gym and nearly 400 students are expected to participate in the ceremony.

Jane McCarthy of KREM-2 News will present this year's commencement address.

Because limited seating is available, guest tickets for NIC's commencement ceremony have already been distributed and attendees will only be admitted to the commencement ceremony with a ticket. Guests are encouraged to arrive early for seating and parking. Campus streets will close down at 9:45 a.m. for the processional. Parking permits will not be needed the day of commencement. Those needing special accommodations should call the NIC Center for Educational Access at (208) 769-5947.

Those who cannot attend can view the commencement ceremony live at 10 a.m. on CDA-TV public access Channel 19.

Graduates, friends and families are invited to a reception honoring this year's graduates immediately following the commencement ceremony in the plaza outside NIC's Edminster Student Union Building.

Stacy Hudson is the public information coordinator with North Idaho College.