KANE, Pa. – Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC) celebrated their annual commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 19 at 2:00 p.m. at The Wilds Sonshine Factory Inc. in Kane. The ceremony recognized 35 students for completing their degree programs or certificates, including 13students in absentia.

President Snelick opened the celebration with remarks honoring the college’s newest graduates and recognizing the milestone they accomplished.

“As you step forward, remember success is not just about reaching a destination, it’s about making the journey matter. Lift others as you rise. Speak up. Keep learning when it’s easy to begin coasting. And always, always choose courage over comfort. No matter where your journey takes you, I know you will make a difference. Go forward with pride, with purpose, and with the belief that you are ready—not just for what’s next, but for all that’s possible.”

McKean County native Hailey Taylor took the podium following President Snelick to deliver her speech as this year’s student speaker. Prior to Commencement, Taylor shared about what this day and opportunity meant to her. “It’s truly an honor to be asked to speak at this commencement, because it’s such an important and memorable day for all of us. Looking back to before college, I never dreamed I’d be doing this.”

Taylor spoke about how she grew during her two years as an NPRC student during her address. “College has taught me that just because there is a setback, it does not mean that I should give up. Just because I failed once does not mean I shouldn’t push and strive to do better. If we all were to give up at the sight of trouble, failure, or disappointment, none of us would have continued with our education. It takes the ability to bounce back, to try and try again to get to where we are, to do what we have done. Without NPRC, I would never have learned the things that I have, just as the personal lessons every other student has or is currently learning wouldn’t have been figured out without this school. NPRC changed my life, and I do not doubt that it has for everyone else as well. The lessons, the support, and the opportunities this school has granted us truly compare to no other institution.”

She continued, “Here is my advice as we all start this new chapter. When things get hard, take a moment to step back and reminisce about your time here enrolled at NPRC. All the nights you may have wanted to give up, when it may have felt like the tide was going against you; you still did it. You still took a rough time and continued. Life and careers can get hard, but you have already proven once that you can take it and ride it out; who says you can’t do it again? It is okay to take a break, to take a step back. Once you’ve collected yourself, jump back on that horse and prove not to anyone else, but to yourself, that you can do it. There is no doubt in my mind that anything that we all put our minds to we can achieve.”

Fellow McKean County native Kelly Compton, the Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit 9 Director of Educational Services, followed Taylor and delivered the Commencement address. She shared, “Here is where I’m going to push you. Everyone is here to celebrate you and all that you have accomplished. All that you have overcome to be in this moment right here, right now. So, I want to congratulate you and your families, and I want to challenge you. You didn’t come this far to only come this far. After you have fought hard to reach a finish line, the temptation is to stop. To exhale. To let this be the thing you did — the degree on the wall, the credential in the folder, the chapter that closes. You earned a rest. You deserve one. But then you get back up.”

She added, “Your degree is not just a personal achievement. It is a contribution. To your family, yes — but also to every person in this region watching to see if it’s possible. To every working mother who thinks she can’t. To every first-generation student who hasn’t decided yet. To every young person growing up right now in a home that is heavy — wondering if someone who came from where they came from can still build a life worth living. You are now the evidence that they can. That is a responsibility. I hope you feel the weight of it — because weight, in the right hands, becomes strength. So, what do you do with it? You keep going. You stay curious. You stay connected to this place. And when it gets hard — because it will — I want you to come back to this moment. Remember what you did to get here. Remember the version of you that almost didn’t make it. That almost let the voice win. That almost let the circumstances become the ceiling. That version of you is not a weakness in your story. That version of you is the story.”

Following Compton, candidates were presented with their certificates and degrees. This year’s candidates included:

Associate of Applied Science

Bruce Knouse – Erie, PA – Erie County

Associate of Arts 

Jennifer Asel – Graduated with honors – Kane, PA – McKean County

Jill Bailey – Graduated with honors – Bradford, PA – McKean County – Graduated in absentia

Kylie Blankenship – Graduated with honors – James City, PA – Elk County

Kayla Brown – Graduated with honors – Corry, PA – Erie County

Bambi L. Coates – Graduated with honors – Ulysses, PA – Potter County

Kiera Dynda – Graduated with honors – Austin, PA – Potter County

Katie Fitzsimmons – Graduated with honors – Gifford, PA – McKean County

Brittney Giancotti – Graduated with honors – Bradford, PA – McKean County

Alexander R. Johnson – Graduated with honors – Bradford, PA – McKean County – Graduated in absentia

Kelly Jones – Graduated with honors – Bradford, PA – McKean County

Payton Kline – Graduated with honors – Smethport, PA – McKean County

Nichole Suzanne Magee – Graduated with honors – Bradford, PA – McKean County

Haley P. Martin – Graduated with honors – Cyclone, PA – McKean County

Christy Olson – Graduated with honors – Smethport, PA – McKean County

Jessica Potthoff – Graduated with honors – Saint Marys, PA – Elk County

Lacey Riale – Graduated with honors – Port Allegany, PA – McKean County – Graduated in absentia

Sierra Showers – Saint Marys, PA – Elk County

Jacquelyn Shuttleworth – Graduated with honors – Saint Marys, PA – Elk County – Graduated in absentia

Suzanne Smith – Graduated with honors – Kersey, PA – Elk County

Jonathon Suladie – Graduated with honors – Coudersport, PA – Potter County

Casey A. Tilley – Graduated with honors – Roulette, PA – Potter County

Victoria Vito – Kane, PA – McKean County

Katie A. Watson – Graduated with honors – Smethport, PA – McKean County

Nicole Wheatley Causer – Graduated with honors – Kane, PA – McKean County

Ashley Zengerle – Graduated with honors – Galeton, PA – Potter County

Associate of Science 

Sandra Brewer – Graduated with honors – Bear Lake, PA – Warren County – Graduated in absentia

Gerald J. Donachy, Jr. – Graduated with honors – Saint Marys, PA – Elk County

Lacey Frisch – Titusville, PA – Crawford County – Graduated in absentia

Michael Moore – Warren, PA – Warren County

Abel Moreno, III – Spartansburg, PA – Crawford County – Graduated in absentia

Hailey W. Taylor – Graduated with honors – Bradford, PA – McKean County

Work-Ready Certificate

Gerald J. Donachy, Jr. – Graduated with honors – Saint Marys, PA – Elk County

Rachel Lasecki – Erie, PA – Erie County

Hailey W. Taylor – Graduated with honors – Bradford, PA – McKean County

Jamie Evens, Chairperson of NPRC’s Board of Trustees, took the podium next to congratulate this group of students as NPRC alumni and encourage them as they enter the next chapter. “To the 2026 graduates – today is a day of celebration, reflection, and anticipation. It is a day that marks not only the end of one journey, but the beginning of countless others. As Chair of the NPRC Board, it has been my privilege to stand with you and share in this moment that you have earned through determination, curiosity, and resilience. One of the great joys of working with this institution is witnessing how education transforms people. Not just through knowledge gained, but through the confidence that comes from asking hard questions, exploring new ideas, and learning to see the world—and yourself—in new ways. On behalf of the entire NPRC Board of Trustees, I congratulate each of you. We are proud of who you are today—and even more excited for who you will become.”

Saturday’s event marked the sixth commencement ceremony in the young history of Northern Pennsylvania Regional College. Through the hard work of the NPRC Commencement Committee, the College hosted a celebration that these alumni and their loved ones will never forget. NPRC looks forward to continuing to celebrate the successes of its alumni and seeing many more students cross the stage in the years to come.

About NPRC: Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC) is authorized by the PA Department of Education to award associate degrees and certificates in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. NPRC is an open-admission, two-year institution of higher education. The College’s mission is to put learners first by providing affordable and accessible education and career pathways to sustainable income. NPRC brings affordable education to a 10-county region (Cameron, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Venango, and Warren). With flexible scheduling options at numerous instructional locations as well as remote attendance options, attending Northern Pennsylvania Regional College is an excellent option for individuals interested in furthering their education close to home or who need flexibility in their educational journey. With a growing team of high-quality industry-leading instructors directing our classrooms, students are empowered by a welcoming community to change their lives and brighten their futures. NPRC is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). https://regionalcollegepa.org.