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Over 700 Owens Community College Students Graduate During Spring Commencement Ceremonies

Over 700 Owens students graduated during Spring Commencement ceremonies.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH – Challenging graduates to strive for excellence in their career aspirations, Michael P. Bell, State of Ohio Fire Marshal and former Chief of the Toledo Department of Fire and Rescue Operations, addressed the Owens Community College graduating class as the academic institution held its 41st annual Spring Commencement on May 11.

Serving as keynote speaker, Bell shared with the 702 graduates, including 106 from the Findlay-area Campus, and the more than 4,000 family, friends and relatives in attendance about the importance of becoming leaders and making a difference in today’s society.

“I encourage and challenge each of you to set personal goals and look to accomplish those goals,” stated Bell in his speech. “Each of you leaves Owens Community College with the knowledge and skills to pursue and obtain the careers that you desire. You are leaders and I congratulate you on your accomplishment.”

Bell was recently appointed State Fire Marshal, where he oversees eight bureaus including: Administration, Bureau of Underground Storage Tank Regulations (BUSTR), Fire Prevention, Arson Investigation, Forensic Lab, Code Enforcement, Fire Academy, and the Testing and Registration Bureau.

He proudly served the city of Toledo for 27 years and was Chief of the Department of Fire and Rescue Operations for over 16 years. During his tenure in fire and rescue operations, he was a Water Rescue Diver, Fire Recruiter, Paramedic, Paramedic Shift Supervisor and Training Officer for the city of Toledo. He also was an Adjunct Instructor for the National Fire Academy. Prior to his promotion in 1990, he served as the Captain of the Training Bureau. Since 2001, Bell served as the Chairman of the Joint Regional Terrorism Task Force for Lucas County.

Bell is a community leader and has been active on several charitable boards including Boys and Girls Clubs of Toledo, Easter Seals Society of Northwest Ohio, Salvation Army, Boy Scouts of America, Red Cross, Mobile Meals and The Bethany House. He has been inducted into the halls of fame for Woodward High School and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Toledo. He also has received the International Association of Fire Chiefs President’s Recognition Award for his dedication to diversity awareness in the fire safety profession.

Bell earned a bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Toledo. He serves on the Owens Community College advisory committee for fire science technology.

Leslie Black, a Business Management major, was selected as the Owens class representative and addressed the graduates during the Spring Commencement ceremony.

Black, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Consumer Economics from Bob Jones University, also earned a certificate in Supervision from Owens in 2006. Prior to pursuing her associate’s degree, she worked as a health educator teaching nutrition for Women, Infant and Children (WIC) and Head Start programs.

An honors student, Black describes herself as a caring, dependable and hardworking individual. She enjoys spending time with her family, scrapbooking and cooking. Black also is an active member of her church and is involved in the College’s Kappa Beta Delta and Phi Theta Kappa honor societies.

Black credits the educational success she has achieved to her spiritual faith and her husband, Neil, and her two children, Zachary and Carleigh, and their unconditional love and support. She is also grateful to her in-laws, Jim and Gerry Black.

“Without their support, this endeavor would not have been possible,” she explained. “My mind has been stretched and my spirit refreshed here at Owens. My children have seen me take on a challenge and complete it with a measure of success.”

Black’s commencement speech addressed her personal journey and touched upon the importance of lifelong learning.

“I appreciate the environment at Owens, an environment that realizes that learning is a lifelong endeavor in a constant state of change,” she stated in her speech. “I would encourage all the 2007 graduates of Owens Community College to tell your story, reflect on the accomplishments you have attained and continue to work toward your goals.”

In the future, Black envisions working with people in training through human resources or in education. She currently resides in Delta.

Of the 702 graduates, 195 graduated with honors and 21 of those earned perfect 4.0 grade point averages.

Michael P. Bell, State of Ohio Fire Marshal, served as the Spring Commencement keynote speaker.

Leslie Black addresses the College’s graduates as class representative.

Benjamin Thomas of New Bavaria and Jacob Simon of Metamora both graduated with associate’s degrees in Technical Studies and chose to wear hard hats associated with their new career field as FirstEnergy power lineman.

Five Owens Early Childhood Education graduates take time to pose for a photo prior to Spring Commencement.

A youngster decides to join in the Spring Commencement festivities by sitting next to his father and trying on his graduation cap during the ceremony.

Owens graduates change their tassels from the right side of the mortarboard to the left side, conferring their graduation status.

Owens Community College is one of the fastest-growing higher educational institutions in Ohio. On the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses, Owens serves more than 45,000 credit and non-credit students. Owens is committed to providing small classes, personal attention and unmatched affordability. Owens Community College offers associate degrees that transfer to baccalaureate degrees in the Arts and Sciences and over 130 technical program areas in Agriculture, Business, Health Sciences, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Skilled Trades, and Engineering and Transportation Technologies. Owens students also can earn the first two years of a bachelor’s degree with a smooth transfer to any area four-year college or university. For more information, visit www.owens.edu.