Welcome to Graduation.

Approximately 700 Ozarks Technical Community College graduates walked in the 2016 commencement ceremony held Thursday, May 12 at JQH Arena on the Missouri State University campus. OTC conferred 3,428 degrees and certificates to graduates this year, which includes students who have completed or are pending completion of their course work from the summer 2015 semester through the spring 2016 semester.

Jeff Houghton, Emmy Award-winning host of the local, late-night talk show The Mystery Hour, was the featured commencement speaker. The comedian’s message for the graduates was “keep not quitting.”

“The dream you have in your heart doesn’t come with a road map. It comes with a machete,” said Houghton. “Those surprises that life throws at you may feel like dead ends, but they aren’t. Just get out of your car, grab your machete, step into the forest and hack yourself a new path.”

Spring 2017 graduates, we are excited to celebrate your accomplishments and we look forward to seeing you at the commencement ceremony, to be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 18, 2017, at JQH Arena on the Missouri State University campus. All graduates from summer 2016, fall 2016, spring 2017 and those qualifying for summer 2017 are encouraged to participate.

Countdown to Commencement.