Success Story: ‘No time like the present’ NMC Reconnect grad, 50, urges others to pursue a degree
April 30, 2025
In her day job as registrar at Traverse City Central High School, Kerri-Ann Bonaddio sees dual-enrolled NMC students all the time. Two years ago, she decided she needed to join them.
“One day I said. ‘I’m just going to do it,’ ” said Bonaddio, 50, who last sat in a classroom almost 30 years ago at a California community college. “Now that I’m an adult, I realize what it means to have a diploma. To have an associate degree.”
She’ll receive that degree on Saturday. Besides the personal accomplishment of earning her degree, Bonaddio has the satisfaction of knowing it was paid for through Michigan Reconnect. The scholarship program pays for in-district tuition and fees for adults 25 and over who don’t already have a college degree. About 20 percent of NMC’s class of 2025 — 123 out of 565 — are Reconnect students.
Bonaddio is not done yet. After taking a little time off, she hopes to pursue her bachelor’s degree. She advises others considering higher education to pursue it, no matter what their age.
“For those younger students, do it now. For the older students who are returning to school, do it now. There’s no time like the present,” she said.
Younger students have the Community College Guarantee to help them finance their education. Both the high school class of 2025 and 2024 are eligible for the scholarship that covers in-district tuition and fees.
Commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2025 will be held Saturday, May 3 in Milliken Auditorium on main campus. Three ceremonies will be held, with graduates grouped by degree or credential earned.
- 11 a.m.: Associate of Science and Arts (ASA) and Associate of General Studies degrees
- 12:30 p.m.: Non-health Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degrees, Associate of Science in Engineering (ASE) degrees, and certificates
- 2 p.m.: Health Occupations (nursing and dental assistant degrees), Aviation, Marine Technology and Maritime
Each ceremony will feature faculty and student speakers. Ceremonies will be streamed live at nmc.edu/video and NMC's YouTube channel. Other 2025 highlights include:
- Presentation of NMC's first Water Quality and Environmental Technology degrees
- Presentation of the first nEXt endorsements. Recipients of this and NMC's global endorsement will be identified with an expanded key in the commencement program, and by wearing special cords, as veteran and honors graduates already do.
NMC will also hold its annual Honors & Leadership Convocation at 4:30 p.m. May 2 at the Dennos Museum Center.
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