85^th Commencement Ceremony Honors
TC Graduates

Approximately 600 Temple College students received associate degrees or certificates of completion at one of two ceremonies marking the 85th annual commencement exercises of the college. The first ceremony took place May 13, at the Performing Arts Center at Hutto High School and included students attending the East Williamson County Higher Education Center (EWCHEC) and Legacy Early College High School. The second ceremony took place on Saturday, May 14, at the Frank and Sue Mayborn Campus Center on the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor campus in Belton. That ceremony included students attending Temple College main campus and the Texas Bioscience Institute Middle College program. The May graduation ceremony recognizes the Spring 2011 class as well as Summer and Fall graduates.

Dr. Lesley B. Keeling-Olson, department chair of the Criminal Justice program, received the Barnhart Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award during the program. She is the 23rd recipient of the $2,000 cash award for teaching excellence. The award is named in honor of Claudia and W. T. Barnhart whose family established an endowment fund in 1988 for the annual recognition given through the Temple College Foundation.

Dr. Keeling-Olson received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Baylor University. While attending Baylor, she began her service in the criminal justice field as a telecommunication operator for the Robinson Police Department. She completed the Police Academy in 1996 and was commissioned by the Robinson Police Department. After graduation from the Police Academy, she returned to teach there as a telecommunications instructor. Through this experience, she developed a love and passion for teaching Criminal Justice. Dr. Keeling-Olson has a Master's degree in Criminal Justice from Tarleton State University - Central Texas and completed a Doctorate in Education degree from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in May of 2010.

List of Candidates for Spring 2011 Graduation

Prior to the May 14 commencement program, several other special ceremonies were held honoring graduates from the Texas Bioscience Institute, Surgical Technology program, Dental Hygiene program, and Nursing programs. A luncheon honoring Surgical Technology graduates was held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 3, at BJ’s Restaurant in Temple.

A cording ceremony for 22 high school seniors completing the Middle College program at the Texas Bioscience Institute was held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, at the Mary Alice Marshal Performing Arts Center. The students were presented with a special TBI cord to be worn at their respective high school graduations. Thirteen of the students also qualified to receive an associate of arts degree from Temple College. The students represent 6 area high schools as well as home school students.

The Honors Ceremony for Dental Hygiene students was held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, at the TC Pavilion.

On Thursday, May 12, pinning ceremonies were held for nursing students at the Mary Alice Marshall Performing Arts Center. The pinning ceremony for vocational nursing was at 5 p.m. and the pinning ceremony for Associate Degree Nursing students was at 7 p.m.

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