Tonight, Flathead Valley Community College will celebrate our 48th commencement. More than 370 graduates will be recognized for the commitments and sacrifices they have made to get to this day. They are four-year university bound students, hardworking parents, displaced workers, veterans and determined individuals who want to build better lives for themselves and their families. They are our neighbors, our family members, our friends and our fellow community members. We are proud and honored to recognize these dedicated individuals who help make our valley extraordinary.

Each of our graduates has his or her own unique story. Yet, all of their stories inspire us to follow our dreams, work harder, believe in ourselves and never give up, even when life seems to be too much to manage.

One of these graduates is Christina Nelson, a mother of four children who returned to college in 2014 to fulfill a promise she made to her dying father when she was 19 years old. Christina’s father wanted her to be the first in her family to earn a college degree. Christina has not only fulfilled her promise to her father, she will graduate with high honors tonight. A member of FVCC’s Honors Program and the president of the college’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter, Christina has been an inspiration to many people, but most importantly, to her children. They have seen for themselves that hard work pays off. One of Christina’s daughters will follow in her mother’s footsteps and begin her college education at FVCC this fall.

Randall Deffert is another exceptional graduate. An active member of the National Guard and a three-tour veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Randall will graduate tonight with high honors and plans to transfer to Montana State University in the fall to study software engineering. Randall is among a select group of college students from across the nation honored as a 2016 Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellow. The award honors inspiring college student leaders who have worked to find solutions for challenges facing their communities and who have demonstrated a personal commitment to creating lasting change to better their communities while making the most of their college experiences.

Randall has volunteered as an assistant in FVCC computer classes for senior citizens and has also utilized his affinity for mathematics by tutoring students who struggle with this important subject. In addition to his volunteer work on campus, Randall has put his carpentry skills to work for Habitat for Humanity through FVCC’s Service Saturday events.

I’d also like to recognize Dieter Grosswiler. Dieter is graduating with high honors tonight and will transfer to Montana State University this fall to finish his degree in computer science. But when Dieter first enrolled at FVCC, he lacked confidence in himself and questioned whether he would ever graduate. Challenged with a physical disability, Dieter often felt different and alone. Things began to change for Dieter when he learned about FVCC’s disability support group, Appreciating Individuality Challenges and Excellence (AICE), and became an active member. This past year he was an outstanding president of AICE, helping others with disabilities talk about their challenges and celebrate their differences.

Stories like these remind us how important the college is to our community. I salute all of our graduates for their hard work, commitment and success. And I thank you, the citizens and taxpayers of our extraordinary community, for your continued support to make the dreams of our graduates come true. You have made today possible.

Please join me in congratulating our graduates and wishing them great success as they begin their next endeavors.

Karas is president of Flathead Valley Community College.