NPC Sees 25 Percent Increase In Graduates
National Park College (NPC) announced a 25 percent increase in graduates this year.
The College held spring commencement ceremonies at Bank of the Ozarks Arena Saturday,
May 12.
NPC students earned 651 degrees and certificates during the 2017-2018 academic year,
compared to 483 in 2016-2017. The College had 458 graduates for the 2017-2018 academic
year, compared to 365 in 2016-2017. This results in a 34.78 percent increase in credentials
earned and a 25.48 percent increase in graduates. Summer graduates will not be conferred
until August and are not included in these counts.
Dr. Wade Derden, vice president for academic affairs said, “We have worked hard over
the past few years to make the path to graduation more attainable for students and
to see our efforts payoff is rewarding. Every credential earned means a life changed
and the impact of that credential creates a ripple effect for that person’s family
as well.”
Derden said the increase is the result of many different things the campus has implemented
in an effort to increase student success. “It’s lots of things. We’ve got a faculty
and staff that care about our students. They believe in the mission of the College
to help students be more successful. They are driven. It’s a driven campus. We are
challenging the status quo,” said Derden.
“Our faculty are exceptional and they deserve a great deal of credit for helping our
students achieve this success,” said Derden.
His team has clarified administrative processes and restructured degree plans to remove
as many obstacles as possible, eliminating unnecessary credit hours and creating a
more efficient path to earn a degree. Clearly defined degree plans, deliberate advising
strategies, expanded academic support services have also contributed to students graduating
on time. “All of this success with the graduates is just a reflection of all of those
efforts and all of those changes over the past couple of years paying off,” Derden
added.
Governor Asa Hutchinson challenged colleges and universities to reduce the educational
attainment gap for the state as part his Closing the Gap 2020 master plan for higher
education released in 2015. 
“Every investment we make at this College is strategically aimed at increasing degree
attainment and helping more students earn a credential so they can improve the quality
of life for their families. Increased graduates also contributes to the local economy
as those individuals join the workforce and give back to the community,” said NPC
President, Dr. John Hogan.
This year’s spring semester graduates include:
Amity
Associate’s Degrees: Logan C Diffee, Molly G Poirier, Hannah M Powell, Misty G Wilson
Technical Certificates: Sandra G Davis, Logan C Diffee, Kevin J Garner, Maggie H
Hardage, Lana B Mehalic, Molly G Poirier, Sarah L Prince
Certificates of Proficiency: Amber G Boyett, Logan C Diffee
Arkadelphia
Associate’s Degrees: Sarah J Bell, Erica D Noumba Yonkeu
Technical Certificates: Erica D Noumba Yonkeu, Kayla Layne Smithey
Certificates of Proficiency: Tiffany T Newborn
Benton
Associate’s Degrees: Sherrion E Parks
Technical Certificates: Katrina A Hogue, Dawnielle E Hughes
Bismarck
Associate’s Degrees: Heather J Miller, Ashley S Vaughn
Technical Certificates: Trent L Allen
Certificates of Proficiency: Britney A Loy
Bonnerdale
Associate’s Degrees: Bee D Thao
Technical Certificates: Royce E Henthorn, Heather A Smith, Cody J Hill
Certificates of Proficiency: Cody J Hill
Bryant
Associate’s Degrees: Kristen N Goodin, Carey L Rogers
Technical Certificates: Karia Daniel, Kristen N Goodin
Caddo Gap
Technical Certificates: Shannon M Young
Conway
Associate’s Degrees: Carla N Mitchell
Technical Certificates: Memory D Collatt, Carla N Mitchell
Fordyce
Technical Certificates: Kevin R Ramer
Glenwood
Associate’s Degrees: Jeremiah L Brown, Regina J Dunkerson, Natalie G Frizzell, John
O Ovanic
Technical Certificates: Christian M Parker
Certificates of Proficiency: Joshua D Duncan, Dustin L Owens, Christian M Parker
Hot Springs
Associate’s Degrees: Charles W Akins, Kristina G Allison, Jonni G Avi, Andrea Danialle
Barker, Tamara M Beckham, Christina G Bias, Matthew A Boxer, Rebecca L Brenneman,
Danielle Raney Cantrell, Heather E Carter, James W Clark, Nicholas K Clayton, Haley
N Crabb, John W Dale III, Kaitlyn D Davis, Laikin D Davis, Erica P De Foor, Joseph
H Dees, Claudia E Diaz, Dulce O Diaz-Altamirano, Corey B Dillard, Deidra D Dobbs,
Melinda A Dobbs, Jana C Dozier, Stevenjoe L Echols, Callie B Farmer, Bobby W Floyd,
Sade A Foreman, Morgan R Fournier, Hannah L Fox, Selena S Frias, Mercedes G Garcia
Lopez, April L Garner, Gregory S Gilbert, Misty N Gold, Alexandra Nicole Golden, Hallie
C Green, Katherine L Green, Elena B Hale, Amanda R Hamerlinck, Lukas D Hanke, Haley
N Harper, Sydney J Hathcock, Deanna L Henry, Harley R Herrington, Candace D Horton,
Eathon R Howell, Patrick R Humphries, Alexis R Johnson, Jennifer N Johnson, Tasha
N Jones, Brianna M Jordan, Megan M Kellogg, Kathleen A Keough, Courtney L Kilpatrick,
Beneditte D Kouetcha, Carl Thomas Lane, Julie A Lawhorn, Kimberly J Lawrence, Janet
M Lewis, Brandy S Lopez, Sarah E Love, Karl G Lowry, Alyssa L Margherone, Corbin D
McCormick, Kae E McWilliams, Dianna L Mikkelsen, James A Miles, Doris Millward, Elvira
Murillo, Aundrea M Nichols, Hemal V Patel, Julianna C Peret, Miguel A Perez, Stephanie
H Ponzaneli, Anna C Pope, Angela K Powell, Jessica D Power, Jessica D Power, Alexis
T Price, Roger D Price, Jeffery S Qualls, Matthew R Reynolds, Hannah J Rice, Joliene
D Rousu, Malinda Jo Scott, Kiya D Searcy, Leveta A Sexton, Taylor D Singleton, Bobbi
L Songer, Samantha N Spradling, Andrea L Strong, Stephanie Tackett, Angelia L Taylor,
Colton S Terry, Robert V Thacker, Veronica B Tillery, Hunter D Vaughn, Blanca G Villatoro,
Mandi L Vincent, Mandi L Vincent, Melissa Ward, Amy M Watson, Davaunna B Watson, Kimari
Watson, Chris J Wells, Thomas R Whitwell, Rebecca L Wilson, Catina M Zerbe
Technical Certificates: Kristina G Allison, Brittany D Andrews, Mihai L Ardelean,
Mark B Askew, Debra E Barry, Paige N Baxter, Tiffany N Beason, Tamara M Beckham, Melanie
L Benoit, Christina G Bias, Beatrice Capps, Garrett J Carriger, Heather E Carter,
Jesse K Chase, Trista Lynette Cheney, Logan M Clark, Reagan E Clem, Haley N Connor,
Laverna M Craigg, John W Dale III, Joseph C Darden, Laikin D Davis, Ronnie D Dawson,
Erica P De Foor, Andy O Denning, Dulce O Diaz-Altamirano, Stevenjoe L Echols, Charity
S Emley, Britney N Estes, Amore G Evans, Jared M Farias, Sade A Foreman, Dixie Leigh
Gaston, Misty N Gold, Jessica A Griffin, Haley N Harper, Teressa B Harrison, Mary
Hartley, Christy A Hodge, Rachel Elizabeth Hulsey, Jarod D Hunter, Paul B Jacobs,
Kelli R Jennings, Hunter M Jester, Alexis R Johnson, Jennifer N Johnson, Madelyn L
Jones, Carl Thomas Lane, Jessica L Larsen, Kimberly J Lawrence, Brooke N Lewis, Janet
M Lewis, Kim Lim, Alexandra N Lindsey, Whitney D Livingston, Brandy S Lopez, Dan R
Martin, Stephanie R Martin, Kevin D McClendon, Corbin D McCormick, Marcella I Mendez,
James A Miles, Doris A Millward, Brandon D Moore, Cody B Mullins, DeAnna M Pelland,
Julianna C Peret, Charles H Perkins, Tina M Pickens, Angela K Powell, Damon L Prince,
Megan N Rhodey, Ashlee J Rice, Precious Hope Riley, Morgan P Rodriguez, LaNita N Roper,
Joliene D Rousu, Logan T Russell, Trina G Samuels, John W Sharp, Jordan S Shelley,
Haley L Smith, Phillip B Smith, Stephen A Smith, Bobbi L Songer, Micheal R Sparks,
Jerry L Spetsieris, Courtney A Stepp, Courtney M Stevens, Chakelia C Summerville,
Samuel L Tadlock, Angelia L Taylor, Robert V Thacker, Iemima Toma, Blanca G Villatoro,
Jonathon D Vint, Kelsey R Wages, Davaunna B Watson, Felicia A Watts, Lacey L Wensel,
Tanna D Winningham
Certificates of Proficiency: Harvest L Aings, John Oliver Albright, Ercie S Allen,
Savanna l Bader, Michael A Barbara, Tyler C Barrett, Garrett T Biggers, Alitza M Cabibi-Wilkin,
Samuel W Capps, Garrett J Carriger, Jaden H Childers, Logan M Clark, Laverna M Craigg,
Sydney K Crawford, Joseph C Darden, William M Davidson, Hunter H Davis, Ronnie D Dawson,
Andy O Denning, Triston H Dickinson, Bridgett Dunaway, Steven M Eberly, Layne Efird,
Sarah A Emery, Ashlynn B Erwin, Nathan J Evans, Jared M Farias, Theresa C Farmer,
Emma G Forbes, Patrick W Gleason, Zachary D Gower, Camryn E Gulledge, Joseph R Hall,
Teressa B Harrison, Emily Joyce Hatley, Ayania T Hicks, Caleb J Holstine, Christian
O Holt, Felix A Hunter Jr., Jarod D Hunter, Paul B Jacobs, Alexis M Jaeger, Hunter
M Jester, Anna E Klunke, Chloe E Koonce, Charles A Krenzelok, Kimberly J Lawrence,
David R Lawson, Barbara A Laxson, Cheryl D Lewis, Kristopher M Lopez, Qasim R Luqman,
Dan R Martin, Deidra Ann McCoy, Nicole D Meier, Hunter P Miller, Kaitlain R Miramontes,
Kaitlin R Mitchell, Brandon D Moore, Jason G Moore, Sebastiana D Moore, Goleta N Morrow,
Paul L Murray, Katherine J Olis, Dante R Orosco, Brittany N Paris, Jaurice Patton.
Cora B Petersen, William D Prestridge, James C Price, Damon L Prince, Paige A Reeves,
Lee W Riddley, Marlin E Rigsby, Guinness D Riley, Precious Hope Riley, Jonathan M
Robbins, David P Roberts, Jalyssa R Searcy, Laurn Sharif, Trevor H Shuffield, Micaela
Sierra, Jensen M Sledd, Phillip B Smith, Stephen A Smith, Trey E Smith, Jerry L Spetsieris,
Denzel L Stevenson, Chakelia C Summerville, Zane C Swayze, Emily V Talos, Shelby L
Tiernan, Courtney E Tran, Cherokee Troxel, Blanca G Villatoro, Trenton D Walsh, Janice
B Washington, Felicia A Watts, Kali D Webb, Nickolas W Wheeler, Brittana L Williams,
MaKayla R Wilson, James W Winstead, Logan W Wright
Hot Springs Village
Associate’s Degrees: Felicia M Beasley, Bethany K Hampton, Justin W Hollis, Cindy
L Lawrence, Calie E VanDusen
Technical Certificates: Ashley R Albert, Bethany K Hampton, Amber M Hayes, Justin
W Hollis, Heaven R Kirk, Nicole M Lamay, Jacob T McAndrews
Certificates of Proficiency: Colton G Ault, Devon T Brewer, Shawn W McCoy, William
C McKinley, Cheyenne L Seely, Christopher M Tobin
Jessieville
Associate’s Degrees: Coy D Adams, Sheena R Burrow, Whitley B Jester, Louise Annette
Wilmoth
Technical Certificates: Sidney E Green
Kirby
Associate’s Degrees: Tyler D Tigue
Technical Certificates: Maddie B White
Langley
Associate’s Degrees: Alicia N Neel
Technical Certificates: Alicia N Neel
Lonsdale
Associate’s Degrees: Jessamine A Shearer, Dustin G Terry
Certificates of Proficiency: Garrett Lawrence Mathews
Malvern
Associate’s Degrees: Jayla M Gaines, Haleigh M Helmick, Bayley L McDermott, Kaylin
L Murphy, Caleb J Paul
Technical Certificates: Randy G Buie, Lauren N Ellis, Jayla M Gaines, Lindsey L Holyfield,
Kayla E Kirksey, Kaylin L Murphy
Certificates of Proficiency: Randy G Buie, Willie J Creech, Chris A Hunt
Mount Ida
Certificates of Proficiency: Caleb L Bridges, Catlin N Winder
Mountain Pine
Associate’s Degrees: Janet R Bradley, Shyla S Hull, Christina L Weingart, Taylor L
Whitten
Technical Certificates: Chelsey D Ditgen, Mary E Estell, Amanda M Huggins, Taylor
L Whitten
Certificates of Proficiency: Devan C Steen
Nashville
Technical Certificates: Morgan L Coulter
Oden
Certificates of Proficiency: Tarren A Blansett
Ola
Technical Certificates: Lindsey N Hall
Ozark
Technical Certificates: Steven M Hughes
Pearcy
Associate’s Degrees: Dillon A Hobby, Dylan J Orman, Steven Parham, Christon D Rowland
Technical Certificates: Michael A Bennett, Dillon A Hobby, Jakob D Martin, Steven
Parham, Billy Ray Smith
Certificates of Proficiency: Mark A Hill, Jakob D Martin, McKinley P Norton, Masen
C Ross, Billy Ray Smith
Pencil Bluff
Technical Certificates: Melissa C Harmon
Pine Bluff
Technical Certificates: Devon M Katayama
Royal
Associate’s Degrees: Anna L Archer, Ethan G Cooper, Nicholas M Cullen, Justin L Dupre,
James C Forbus, Ashley N Gibson, Jenna N Hamilton, Veronica A Hughes, Rachel Lundquist
Technical Certificates: Nicholas M Cullen, Rachel Lundquist, Braden L Truelove, Gregory
V Sands, Kelly A Swaim
Certificates of Proficiency: Jonathan M Bettis, Hannah M Crow, Bryan Ibarra, Braden
L Truelove
Story
Associate’s Degrees: Harlie A Felton
Technical Certificates: Harlie A Felton, Lacy R Lenard
Certificates of Proficiency: Victoria L Lantz
