NPC News

National Park College (NPC) hosted the 2023 commencement ceremony Saturday at Bank OZK Arena. The College conferred 833 degrees and certificates to 518 graduates this year. This is the highest number of degrees and certificates conferred in the College’s history.

The College recognized the first cohort of graduates from the Bachelor of Science degree programs through a partnership with Southern Arkansas University this year, as well as graduates in NPC’s apprenticeship programs.

Each year, the College’s honor society, Phi Theta Kappa, selects a student who exemplifies academic achievement, demonstrates personal advancement, and contributes to the overall spirit of the College to receive the Tom and Rachel Spencer Spirit of NPC Award. Jinny Winchell was awarded this year’s honor during Saturday’s commencement event.

Winchell immigrated to the United States with her parents when she was 18 years old. She studied cosmetology and worked as a hair designer for 27 years. In 2012, she had to quit working to care for her husband who had broken his back at work and had been diagnosed with cancer. At this time, she was also taking care of her father, who had also been diagnosed with cancer. She did all of this while continuing to raise her two children. Jinny’s father and husband both went into remission, but this experience instilled a passion in Jinny to care for others.

Winchell enrolled at NPC at the age of 42, after losing her job due to COVID-19. She graduated Saturday with a Technical Certificate in Pre-Nursing. Since she enrolled at NPC three years ago, she has earned a Technical Certificate in Practical Nursing, received her LPN license and is currently in the LPN to RN bridge program. Despite the challenges, she has succeeded while continuing to work to provide for her family. Through her journey at NPC, she has received the President’s Award for outstanding academic achievement several times and was the TRiO Student of the Year in 2022.

View a complete album of photos from the event.