![Group of students in caps and gowns smiling.]()
College of the Ozarks will host its 118th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 10, 2025, in The Howell W. Keeter Athletic Complex on the College campus.
College of the Ozarks to hold Commencement Ceremony Saturday, May 10
Ceremony marks the 118th annual commencement for the College
College of the Ozarks will host its 118th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 10, at 10 a.m. in The Howell W. Keeter Athletic Complex on the College campus. The ceremony will honor 328 graduating students: 79 Bachelor of Arts, 230 Bachelor of Science, and 19 Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This is a ticketed event for graduates and their families.
The top five majors of the graduating class are psychology, nursing, child studies, engineering, and business administration.
Dr. Brad Johnson, president of College of the Ozarks, expresses the importance of celebrating graduation and preparing students for a Christ-centered life.
“We are, indeed, proud of our graduates — not only for their academic, work, and personal accomplishments, but also their perseverance, compassion, and the observable deepening of their faith,” Johnson said. “The College strives to provide the framework for Christian, academic, vocational, cultural, and patriotic growth, and the graduates have embraced these opportunities through hard work. Commencement is more than a diploma and noteworthy academic accomplishment; it is a celebration marking the beginning of a lifelong journey to follow the Lord’s will for their lives.”
Eric Bolger, vice president for academic affairs and provost, reflects on how the College prepares students for graduation.
“College of the Ozarks prepares students for success in life through a combination of core general education classes, major and minor focus area classes, the Work Education Program, and student and Christian life activities,” Bolger said. “Students who graduate from the College have a well-rounded, Christ-centered understanding of the world and how to make their way in it.”
Jimmy Cummings, community pastor at Fellowship Bible Church of Northwest Arkansas and alumnus of the College, will speak at commencement at 10 a.m. in The Howell W. Keeter Athletic Complex.
About Jimmy Cummings
Jimmy Cummings serves as one of the regional community pastors at Fellowship Bible Church of Northwest, Arkansas, where he has been on staff since 2012. Cummings is passionate about making disciples and developing healthy leaders within the church through the context of small group ministries. He currently shepherds Community Groups within the church, and oversees the Fellowship Rogers Marriage Enrichment Ministry, Men’s Ministry, and Discover Fellowship.
Prior to 2012, Cummings was on staff at First Baptist Church of Branson, Missouri, from 2009-2012, serving as a worship pastor. During this season, he received a master’s degree from the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies.
Cummings graduated from College of the Ozarks in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science degree in international business. Both Cummings and his wife, Megan, are proud graduates of College of the Ozarks. They were married in the Williams Memorial Chapel at C of O in 2007. After graduation, they lived on campus, and Cummings served as the director of the Baptist Student Union for 4 years.
The Cummings reside in Rogers, Arkansas, and have three children: JP (11), Owen (9), and Lily (7). Their children attend Providence Academy Classical School. Cummings was born and raised in St. Charles, Missouri. He is a devout Cardinals baseball fan and loves to hike, fish, camp, kayak, 4-wheel and dirt bike.
The GOLD Candidates
Every year during commencement, officer candidates are commissioned as part of the ceremony. This year, the following will be commissioned into the U.S. Army:
Officer Candidate Ryan Wade, business administration major, will be commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Missouri Army National Guard. Upon commissioning, Wade will branch in the Military Police with the 1136th Military Police Company in Springfield, Missouri. Wade will attend Military Police Basic Officer Leadership Course at Ft. Leanard Wood, Missouri, following graduation.
“It’s always a humbling and honorable experience to get to commission a future leader into the Army,” said Captain Jamin Pyatt, instructor of military science. “Becoming an Army officer is about leadership, service, and the chance to make a real difference for your country and your fellow soldiers. We’re excited to watch Second Lieutenant Wade begin this journey and proud to be a part of the process that got him there.”