JALC Holds Successful Graduation Ceremonies After Rescheduling to Avoid Severe Weather
Published on May 19, 2025
With the threat of severe weather looming over southern Illinois, John A. Logan College officials made the early call Thursday morning to postpone Friday’s graduation ceremonies. That decision proved prudent as tornadoes swept through the region Friday evening, causing widespread damage.
“We knew moving graduation was going to be inconvenient for our graduates, their families, and everyone involved,” said JALC President Dr. Kirk Overstreet. “I can’t say enough about all of our staff that jumped in to make this happen and give our graduates their special moment.”
Despite the last-minute shift to Saturday, turnout remained strong. An over-capacity crowd packed Brewer Gymnasium and the O’Neil Auditorium to celebrate the college’s fifty-sixth commencement ceremony — and the first ever held on a Saturday.
“Both ceremonies were very close to the number of graduates that we predicted would walk through the graduation,” Overstreet said.
Provost Dr. Stephanie Chaney Hartford opened the ceremonies by thanking those in attendance and acknowledging the hardships endured by the community during the storm. She asked for continued thoughts and prayers for those affected by the tornadoes and the first responders working through the aftermath.
The college hosted two ceremonies on Saturday. At 9 a.m., degrees were awarded for Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Engineering Science, and Associate in Fine Arts. At 11:30 a.m., the Associate in Applied Science and certificate earners were recognized. Student speakers included Kaleigh Duncan and Braden Wright, both from Carterville.
Despite the challenges posed by the weather, officials and attendees alike praised the effort to ensure graduates were honored in a safe and memorable setting.