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2023 Graduation is the Largest in CMN History
The College of the Muscogee Nation held its largest graduation in its nineteen-year history on April 21, 2023. The graduation ceremony was held at the Mvskoke Dome in Okmulgee, OK, with sixty-eight graduates for the 2022-2023 academic year. President Dr. Monte Randall conferred the graduates with associate degrees in Native American Studies, Natural Resources, Gaming, Tribal Services, Criminal Justice, and General Studies and certificates in Mvskoke Language Studies. President Randall recognized the service of military veterans who were graduates and those in the audience and graduates on the President’s Honor Roll, Honor Roll, and Phi Theta Kappa members. Among the many family members and friends in attendance, CMN was pleased to welcome the CMN Board of Regents, MCN Principal Chief David Hill, Second Chief Del Beaver, MCN Council Speaker William Lowe, and members of the National Council.
The CMN Graduation Committee, led by the Dean of Academic Affairs, Mekko Tyner, organized the program events. Special recognition was given to the Faculty Member of the Year, Cynthia Sanders. The Commencement Speaker was Carrie Billy, the President and CEO of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium. President Billy reminisced on her service and recognized the significance of this graduation being held on the fiftieth anniversary of AIHEC. She gave a powerful charge to all the graduates to take Tribal Colleges and Universities into the future over the next fifty years. The graduate respondent for the ceremony was Shayln Proctor, a Mvskoke Language Studies Certificate graduate. Shalyn gave an equally powerful speech on her resilience in overcoming many obstacles to continue her studies at CMN.
The College of the Muscogee Nation is grateful for the support of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and AIHEC. Mvto, to the Mvskoke Nation Honor Guard for presenting the Colors, CMN Faculty Member: Gregory Palma for singing the National Anthem in the Mvskoke language, and Graduate: Naomi Wesley for the invocation in the Mvskoke language. Mvto, to all the CMN faculty and staff for your continued service and for carrying on our tradition of putting our students first.
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The College of the Muscogee Nation is Oklahoma’s premier tribal college offering exemplary academic degree programs and student services preparing leaders in tribal and non-tribal sectors.