Ben Garbacz/Daily Mining Gazette Liz Julio was the featured Speaker at KBOCC's commencement Friday. Julio challenged the graduates to embrace change.

BARAGA — The Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College (KBOCC) held its 2025 Honors and Commencement Ceremony in the Niiwin Akeaa Center Friday to send off the college’s largest graduating class to date. A total of 17 students received their associate degrees in multiple disciplines including Anishinaabe studies, early childhood education, business administration and environmental science.

Certificates were also conferred in the fields of business administration, child development, criminal justice, culinary arts and healthcare management. Certificates of completion for nursing assistant and welding were also awarded.

The ceremony began with the entrance of the KBIC Honor Guard leading the graduating class into the Niiwin Akeaa Center’s gymnasium. Before the students’ achievements were formally recognized, KBOCC Dean of Academic Affairs and Interim President Megan Haataja was called up to the podium to be recognized for her leadership service to the college. She has served as the interim president for the last six months.

Haataja was presented with a blanket for her service. KBOCC Board of Regents Trustee Kathleen Smith explained that blankets are more than a gift in the the tribe’s culture, but a way to uplift, honor and wrap someone in the spirit of community and appreciation.

Haataja then shared some of the accomplishments the college has made this past year and semester. The KBOCC saw its highest enrollment in both the semester and academic year, awarded the largest amount of financial aid to and the largest number of degrees and certificates.

“These milestones are more than numbers — they represent lives changed, goals achieved and futures transformed,” Haataja said. “They reflect the hard work of our students, the dedication of our faculty and staff and the support of families and community members who never stopped believing in the power of education.”

Following the Freshman of the Year Award to Tony Magnant, the recognition of the student who embodies the spirit of Zoongidewin (bravery and courage) to Cassidy Nauertz and departmental awards were addresses from the college’s valedictorians. Deborah Knapp was the first to speak, a homeschooled student born and raised in L’Anse. Knapp graduated from high school with 41 college credits last year, which allowed her to earn her associate’s degree this year.

“Graduating isn’t just about earning a degree,” Knapp said. “It’s about proving for ourselves that when it gets tough, when it feels impossible, when there are millions of reasons to give up, we keep going. Today we celebrate the late nights, the early mornings, the small victories and the big dreams.”

Knapp will attend Michigan Tech in the fall to study construction management.

The other validictorian was Shiloh Lussier, or Manidoo Miigwan (Spirit Feather). Lussier graduated from L’Anse High School in 2007 before attending Northern Michigan University. His last year at NMU was 2014, and he explained there was a large gap in his education leading to him enrolling into KBOCC in 2022. Lussier shared that he battled addiction during that time and was arrested in 2018. He said his jail sentence gave him time to reflect on what he truly wanted, and it led to him completing an inpatient treatment program.

“I mention these things because it is part of my journey, and my goal is to reduce the stigma attached to the disease of addiction,” Lussier said. “It is also my goal to inspire other individuals who battle the disease of addiction, and let them know goals can be accomplished, and living a positive life is possible. Without my sobriety, I would not be standing here today as a college graduate of the KBOCC.”

After the ceremony, Lussier explained further studies into his culture, especially learning the Anishinaabe language helped him find balance in his life.

“I feel that’s one of our main cultural identities, one of the main components that was stripped from us and taken from us,” he said. “Also living in balance with the Medicine Wheel teachings. When you’re in active addiction, your balance is thrown totally off in all four areas: physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. So living a positive life means regaining the balance and all four quadrants of the Medicine Wheel.”

Lussier will continue working as the Healing and Wellness Coordinator within the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC). He is looking forward to continue incorporating Anishinaabe culture into work to assist individuals in addiction.

After the valedictorian addresses, commencement speaker, Liz Julio took to the podium. Julio currently serves as the education director for KBIC, is the Tribal Council’s assistant secretary and has held various positions within KBOCC. She is, however part of the college’s history as one of KBOCC’s first graduates in 2003. Julio’s address challenged the students to embrace the change the world will present them.

“An elder once told me that life will present itself with many forks in the road, and with those forks there’ll be choices, and the choices, they’re always going to be the same — to either follow that road of familiarity, or to veer off into the unknown,” Julio said. “The familiar road will loop with minimal variances. The unknown path is the road to change, and change is scary and change is constant, but when you choose this road, you’re choosing growth.”

The graduates were then presented with their degrees and blankets. KBOCC Board of Regents Vice-Chairman Robin Chosa said seeing the growth of the college since he graduated from it in the early 2000s means so much to him and the community, for both tribal and non tribal students.

“Historically, education wasn’t for us (Native Americans),” Chosa said. “We were told we’re not good enough for it, and when tribal colleges came along, being part of a tribal college means we have to have that cultural component in every single one of our classes. So seeing the growth and seeing how it’s portrayed to everybody? A lot of people get that opportunity to learn their culture.”