Bacone holds commencement to end tumultuous year

Ronn Rowland, Muskogee Phoenix, Okla.
·2 min read

May 14—Tema Yargee congratulated her fellow graduates during Bacone College's Commencement on Saturday.

Six students, including Yargee, received their diplomas at a ceremony at Colton's Steakhouse. Three additional graduates were unable to attend the ceremony.

Yargee, class valedictorian who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice, said that she and her fellow graduates should be proud of what they had to endure their final year.

"I'm thankful to God that we all can go to the future," the Okemah native said. "We can pursue our dreams and go and do great things. We can do anything in the future because the struggles that we faced strengthened us."

One year ago, the graduates didn't know where they would be attending college. Bacone was involved in a legal battle that threatened to close the school.

Twice the school and the land was set for a sheriff's sale to settle a judgment in a lawsuit and both times the sale was halted.

Bacone acting president Leslie Hannah said the graduates should be proud of persevering through the adversity.

"I'm very proud of them," he said. "To be able to stick with us through the uncertainty of it, to come to today and see them — even though it was in a small banquet room — it's quite an achievement."

Amy Yargee, Tema's grandmother, was beaming to see what her granddaughter, and the other graduates, had accomplished.

"It's really amazing," Amy said. "After all this time I keep telling her to have faith and things will work out."

Josh Johns, owner of A&A Insulation, was the commencement speaker. The 2011 graduate told of his journey from Muskogee back to his hometown and the return to Muskogee.

"I had the honor to be where you're at in 2011, well not exactly where you're at because we were at the Muskogee Civic Center," he said. "I've been a board member since January and I know it has been a turbulent time for all of us. I want to congratulate you — you guys have been through four years of things that most college graduates don't have to go through."

As for the future of Bacone College, Hannah said the board is working hard to have the school remain open.

"We still have a lot of work to do," he said. "This board is rolling up its sleeves and doing the work. We are dedicated to saving Bacone College in some form or fashion."