On a stage in Mason City, Iowa, 840 graduates of North Iowa Area Community College filed across the stage to receive degrees, diplomas, and certificates. The 106th commencement for NIACC, held in 2026, marked a milestone not just for the students but for the communities they will serve. Nearly half of those graduates completed programs in health sciences, a field that relies increasingly on a mix of technical skill and human empathy.

President Joel Peterson opened the ceremony by thanking the Mason City Police Department, the registrar Michelle Pettznik, assistant registrar Jenny Ryan, and a small army of volunteers who transformed a gymnasium into a graduation hall. He then introduced the board of trustees, elected officials who oversee the college's governance. Board president Andy Joseph — Dr. Andy Joseph, actually — addressed the graduates directly.

"Our communities rely on the contributions of NIACC alumni," Joseph said. "Whether you plan to directly enter the workforce or further your journey in higher education, you’re equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary for success." He urged the class to view graduation not as an ending but as the beginning of a lifelong commitment to learning.

A student speaker with a message for the digital age

The most striking moment came when Dr. Rachel Maguire, vice president of student services, introduced the student speaker. Jenna Walker, graduating with an Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant, had been recognized as a Pathway to Success student leader. She stepped to the microphone with a snort and a smile, then delivered a speech that could have been written for a tech conference audience — if tech conferences still valued vulnerability.

Walker described her clinical rotations treating patients with spinal cord injuries and brain injuries. She learned two lessons that she said go beyond classroom materials: be present, and outserve one another.

"It’s easy to get ahead of ourselves and to look past our current reality," she told her fellow graduates. "As a society, we’re constantly planning three steps ahead and creating new goals to achieve. Being present is a choice, and it’s a choice I want to encourage you to strive to make daily through intentionality."

That idea cuts against the grain of modern life, where optimization apps, productivity tools, and AI assistants nudge us to do more, faster. Walker’s call to pause — to go for a walk, call a friend, slow down without trying to optimize every moment — feels almost radical in a culture that rewards speed. She closed with a quote: "Your life is not just a series of tasks to complete."

The numbers behind the ceremony

NIACC began in 1918 as Mason City Junior College, graduating five students in its first class. By 2026, the college had awarded credentials to more than 35,000 graduates. The class of 2026 alone represented 21 states and 11 countries, according to Dr. Laurel Clinkenberg, who announced academic honors. Roughly 280 of the graduating students earned more than one credential.

The health sciences ceremony honored several categories of achievement:

• Hall of Fame candidates: students who earned all A’s. Twenty-nine names were called, including Cameron Alsbrook, Anna Clark, and Taylor Benique.
• Phi Theta Kappa members: graduates with a 3.5 GPA after completing 12 semester hours, wearing gold stoles and cords.
• Outstanding athlete scholars: Lance Helming and Reggie Spots were recognized for athletic and academic excellence.
• Ambassador scholarship recipients: graduates receiving NIACC Foundation scholarships to transfer to four-year schools. Recipients included Jordis Woodward, Kylie Loberg, and Olivia Sperling.

Students who completed 30 or more hours of volunteer service wore a silver cord. Veterans and active-duty military members wore a red, white, and blue cord.

Health sciences and the workforce pipeline

Community colleges produce a disproportionate share of U.S. healthcare workers. According to the American Association of Community Colleges, roughly 60 percent of registered nurses and 80 percent of allied health professionals begin their education at two-year institutions. NIACC offers more than 70 programs, and the health sciences division includes nursing, physical therapist assistant, medical assistant, and other clinical tracks.

Walker’s degree in physical therapist assistant places her in a field the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects will grow 27 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations. The role involves working under a physical therapist to help patients recover from injuries, manage chronic conditions, and regain mobility. Technology plays an ever larger role in that work — from electronic health records to robotic exoskeletons — but the core of the job remains the human connection.

"The happiest patients I had the privilege to treat had the most unfortunate circumstances," Walker said. She learned to share the joy of small moments, even when the future was uncertain.

Outserving one another in a culture of optimization

Walker’s second lesson, outserving one another, echoes a leadership philosophy often cited in Silicon Valley circles: servant leadership. But she grounded it in the specific context of healthcare. "In order to have a village, you must first be the village," she said. "That is done by trying to outserve one another."

Her speech touched on failure — exams that don’t earn an A, goals that don’t get met — and the bounce back that reinforces desire for success. The NIACK singers performed a version of "You Will Be Found" from the musical Dear Evan Hansen, which captures the same theme: even when you feel forgotten, someone will come running to take you home.

What comes next for the class of 2026

After the honors and the music, President Peterson called the health sciences candidates forward. The students crossed the stage one by one, with the instruction that anyone who preferred not to shake hands should fold their hands together. Ushers directed rows to the stage as the names rolled out: Jenna Lynn Walker, Megan Ray Tobin, Faith Noel Weden, and dozens more. Some cheered, some cried, some walked with the quiet dignity of a long journey completed.

For the 840 graduates — and the nearly 300 who earned multiple credentials — the ceremony marked the transition from student to professional. Some will enter the workforce directly. Others will transfer to four-year institutions. All of them carry the lessons of their instructors, their clinical experiences, and a student speaker who reminded them that success isn’t just about achievements. "It’s about the lives we touch, the gratitude we show, and the differences we make."

In a world that increasingly asks us to optimize every moment, that advice may be the most valuable credential of all.