The 2016 Commencement Ceremony at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College will be held on Thursday, May 19, at 6:30 p.m. in the Gymnasium located in the Lester Jack Briggs Cultural Center on campus.
The Honorable Sally Jewell, Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior, will provide the commencement address to the 240 students who are candidates to receive an associate in arts, associate in fine arts, associate in science, associate in applied science degree, or nursing diploma from Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. Secretary Jewell was nominated for the Cabinet post by President Obama and sworn in as the 51st Secretary of the Interior on April 12, 2013. Jewell leads an agency with more than 70,000 employees that serves as steward for approximately 20 percent of the nation’s lands, including national parks and national wildlife refuges, and upholds trust responsibilities to the 566 federally recognized American Indian tribes and Alaska Natives. Prior to her confirmation, Jewell was President and Chief Executive Officer of Recreation Equipment, Inc. (REI). An avid outdoorswoman, Jewell enjoys skiing, kayaking, and hiking, and has scaled Mount Rainier on seven occasions, and recently climbed Vinson Massif, the highest mountain in Antarctica.
Student speakers will be Amanda Olson, Carmen Jones, and Logan Crowser. Trustee Tom Renier, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, will provide a welcome from Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System Board of Trustees. Karen Diver, White House Special Assistant to the President for Native American Affairs, will provide greetings from the White House and will also introduce Secretary Jewell.
Larry Anderson, president of Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, will provide welcoming remarks, and Don Carlson, vice president of academic affairs, along with Keith Turner, dean of student services, will assist President Anderson in conferring the degrees to the graduates. An Honorary Doctorate degree will be presented to Peter Defoe as recognition of his career’s work in tribal management. The Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College Singers will provide grand entry, honor, and recessional songs. Opening pipe ceremony will be conducted by faculty member Dan Jones.
The public is welcome to attend the event.

Testimonials

I chose FDLTCC because of its size and the curriculum. When I first came here in 2019, I was just looking for what I needed to volunteer, perhaps in a crisis shelter. I met with Don Jarvinen, and the rest is history.

My favorite thing about FDLTCC is the people. I’ve met fantastic students, faculty and staff who go above and beyond what I expected.

It is awesome here at the FDLTCC Education Program because it is like a family here, if you need help or are struggling with anything, you have quite a few people who will help you out.