SPRING 2026 COMMENCEMENT

Commencement Speaker

Louisiana Technical and Community College President Richard Nelson

Mr. Nelson serves as President of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, leading twelve colleges across the state in advancing workforce development, economic growth, and student success. A native of Mandeville, he earned degrees in Biological Engineering and Law from Louisiana State University. Nelson previously served seven years in the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Service, with assignments in Washington, D.C., Germany, and the Republic of Georgia. After returning to Louisiana, he worked in the private sector and was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives, where he championed initiatives to improve early literacy and reduce public debt.

Governor Jeff Landry later appointed Nelson as Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue, where he helped lead the state’s historic 2024–2025 tax reforms, supporting major new investment and job creation across Louisiana. Nelson is committed to expanding workforce pathways and economic opportunity for all Louisianans.

Distinguished Alumni Award – Josh McMichael

After studying Diesel Technology under Mr. Mike Singley, Josh McMichael graduated from Northshore Technical Community College’s Sullivan Campus in 2015. Following graduation, he began his career in the diesel industry at an independent diesel repair shop, where he worked from 2015 to 2017 and gained valuable hands-on experience. 

In 2017, Josh accepted a position with Lee Tractor Co. in St. Rose, Louisiana, serving as a Field Service Technician. In this role, he  specialized in repairing agricultural and construction equipment, building extensive industry knowledge and technical expertise over five years.

In 2022, alongside his brother, Aaron McMichael—also an NTCC alumnus—he took the next step in his professional journey by launching McMichael Diesel Service, a mobile diesel repair business. Together, they continue to successfully operate and grow the company, demonstrating the entrepreneurial spirit and workforce skills developed through their education and experience.

Josh’s journey reflects NTCC’s mission of preparing students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to build successful careers while making an impact in their communities.

Young Alumni Award — McKenzie Flash

McKenzie is an NTCC alumna and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) whose personal journey of resilience embodies the college’s mission of student success and community impact.

A native of French Settlement, Flash’s path to the classroom was anything but linear. After finding large university settings disconnected, she discovered her place in NTCC’s Medical Assistant (MA) program in 2019. Coming from a small town, she felt anxious in large settings and chose NTCC because of its personal learning environment, believing she was exactly where she needed to be. 

Flash continued her education through NTCC’s innovative MA-to-PN Bridge program in partnership with North Oaks Health System (NOHS). Despite the challenges of navigating a pregnancy during the rigorous program, she graduated in December 2023, crediting the instrumental support of NTCC leadership and her family.

Only five months into her career as an LPN at North Oaks, Flash’s life changed instantly following a traumatic ATV accident that resulted in the amputation of her left arm below the elbow. Nursing had become her identity, and in that moment, her future felt uncertain. Driven by determination, she returned to the hospital unit just four months later. While the transition required her to relearn clinical skills and rebuild her confidence, it also gave her a unique perspective—that of the patient. The experience deepened her empathy and reshaped her approach to care, reinforcing that nursing is defined not by what is lost, but by compassion.

After a period of healing and a brief tenure supporting fellow amputees at a prosthetic company, Flash felt called back to the medical field. In September 2025, she accepted a full-time role as an Allied Health Instructor at NTCC while continuing to serve patients with PRN at North Oaks Health System. Having once sat in NTCC classrooms searching for her own direction, she now guides students as they pursue their paths and develop into compassionate healthcare professionals.

As NTCC continues to expand its Workforce Development initiatives, Flash’s experience, perspective, and unwavering determination serve as an inspiration to the next generation of Allied Health students.

Spring 2025 Commencement

 

◊ Chancellor’s Award 4.0 (Associate Degree)

*** Summa Cum Laude 4.0 (Gold Cord)

** Magna Cum Laude 3.7 – 3.999 (Green Cord)

* Cum Laude 3.5 – 3.699 (White Cord)

§ Veteran Graduate (Red, White, Blue Cord)

ɸ Phi Theta Kappa Member (Gold & Blue Cord)

₲ Student Government Association Senator (Royal Blue Cord)

€ National Society of Leadership and Success Member (Black & Silver Cord)

β Youth Build Bogalusa (Blue & Orange Cord)

£ High School Equivalency Honors (Light Blue Cord)

∞ Building Futures Award recipient (Light Blue & Green Cord)

 

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