Commencement 2026

Joseph Variot, a North Central Michigan College nursing alumnus and adjunct nursing instructor, will serve as the keynote speaker for the nurse pinning ceremony.

Variot’s path to nursing reflects a journey shaped by years of work, family life, and a commitment to serving others. After beginning his college education at Oakland Community College and Wayne State University, he built a career in construction, owning and operating his own contracting business for nearly two decades. He later returned to the classroom to pursue his interest in healthcare, completing his nursing prerequisites at North Central before graduating as a registered nurse in 2012 and earning his Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2014.

Following graduation, Variot gained experience in long-term care and at Munson Medical Center, where he served as a floor nurse, charge nurse, and patient care coordinator. He currently works as a pool nurse at Kalkaska Memorial Health Center and serves as an adjunct instructor at North Central, helping prepare the next generation of nurses.

Frank Ettawageshik, a longtime Northern Michigan leader and former Tribal chairman of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, will deliver the commencement address.

A Harbor Springs resident, Ettawageshik has dedicated more than 40 years to public service, including 16 years in tribal elected leadership, 14 of those as chairman. During his tenure, he helped advance key regional and international agreements, including the Tribal and First Nations Great Lakes Water Accord and the United League of Indigenous Nations Treaty.

He currently serves as an appellate justice for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Tribal Court and has been executive director of the United Tribes of Michigan since 2009. His work spans state, national, and international boards and commissions focused on environmental stewardship, tribal sovereignty, and education.

In addition to his public service, Ettawageshik is a traditional Anishinaabe storyteller and potter whose work is held in collections worldwide.

“Frank’s leadership reflects a deep commitment to community, stewardship, and service. His perspective and life’s work will resonate with our graduates as they prepare to make a difference in their communities.”

—NCMC President David Roland Finley, Ph.D.

During the ceremony, college officials will confer an honorary degree of Community Service upon former trustee Phil Millard in recognition of his longstanding leadership and service to North Central Michigan College.

Millard served on the NCMC Board of Trustees for nearly two decades, including 11 years as chair. During that time, he helped guide key initiatives that expanded access, strengthened student support and enhanced campus facilities.

Millard’s contributions supported the launch of Early College programs, the establishment of the Career Development Center and the college’s approval for distance delivery. He also played a role in projects including the Mobile Fab Lab, library renovations, the Harris Sculpture Garden and the Campus Cupboard food pantry, as well as the Building Tomorrow Together campaign and the launch of intercollegiate athletics.

“Phil’s leadership and steady commitment to North Central have made a lasting difference for our students and our community. This recognition reflects the depth of his service and how deserving he is of this honor.”

—NCMC President David Roland Finley, Ph.D.

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In accordance with Board policy ​adopted in 2018, North Central may award award an honorary degree to an individual as the highest form of recognition for extraordinary service to the college or outstanding contributions to the community.  The honorary degree shall be based on the following areas in which individuals may have made significant contributions:

• Educational Service: Recognizing outstanding service that enhances educational opportunities for the area or that gives personal assistance that leads to the success of individuals in higher education.
• Humanitarian Service: Recognizing outstanding altruism that enhances the quality of life for others in the area.
• Servant Leadership: Recognizing outstanding service that goes "the second mile" beyond the servant's paid job description in any area of leadership and that benefits others and/or enhances their leadership capabilities.
• Arts and Letters: Recognizing outstanding contributions to the arts in any form that enhances the quality of life in the area.
• Entrepreneurial Leadership: Recognizing outstanding contributions to business/industry through creative startups of new enterprises or through innovative management or business or industry.

President David Roland Finley and members of our faculty will be dressed in their academic regalia. The colors on the hoods represent information about the wearer’s academic background. The type of degree (bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral) is indicated by the width of the velvet edging. The length of the colors of lining denotes the school from which the degree was conferred. The color of the velvet edging denotes the field of learning. 

The following is a list of colors established by the Intercollegiate Code to represent the departments of learning. The Intercollegiate Code of 1895 set the standards for academic dress in the United States. With the exception of revisions in 1932 and 1959, the code has been unchanged since its inception.

The Academic Honor Cord recognizes a student’s academic achievement in an associate degree or certificate program.

Yale — Distinction, GPA 3.50—3.69

Gold — High Distinction, GPA 3.70—3.89

Gold and Yale — Highest Distinction, GPA 3.90—4.00

Red, White and Blue — The Military Honor Cord recognizes veterans and active-duty members and the service they provide to our country.

White — The Student Leadership Honor Cord recognizes Student Senate membership.

Purple — The Ambassador Honor Cord recognizes Student Ambassador membership.

Silver and Peacock — The Student-Athlete Honor Cord recognizes student-athletes who have completed two seasons of eligibility or who have been on the roster for both the Fall and Winter semester of their graduation year.

The Medallion — The Early College Medallion recognizes Early College graduates.

The ceremonial mace, a symbol of leadership and authority, is carried by the senior faculty member at all formal college events and is displayed on the platform during these functions. Professor Chet Jessick (pictured) was the mace bearer during the 2023 commencement ceremony.

North Central’s mace was designed by Leon Nash, adjunct art instructor and North Central’s director of campus housing, and manufactured with assistance from staff in the college’s CNC lab.

Measuring 42” long and weighing 7.5 pounds, the mace is constructed of ash and oak trees, both native to Northern Michigan. Ash was selected because it is known as a traditional handle-making wood, and oak lends stability to the head of the mace.

The “X” design on the bottom of the mace is symbolic of four arrows coming together at a single point, representative of students, faculty, staff and community members from different backgrounds converging at a single destination, North Central Michigan College, for a common purpose: to seek and impart knowledge. At the opposite end of the mace is a guiding arrow with a Flame of Knowledge inside, representing the conclusion of one’s journey at North Central and the resulting transfer of knowledge.

“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.”  —Socrates

The College seal is displayed prominently on one side of the mace head, matching the President’s Medallion, which is worn during formal college events. The remaining three sides are blank at present, the College’s future chapters yet to be written.