Commencement Day at COCC, OSU-Cascades

Saturday was a beautiful day for a graduation on the High Desert, and two local colleges played Pomp and Circumstance for over 600 graduates.

With the Cascades as their backdrop, Central Oregon Community College graduated over 400 students on Mazama Field Saturday morning.

The class of 2012 heard words of inspiration in an unusual commencement speech from a former COCC student — Bend resident Mosley Wotta, who gave his speech a hip-hop vibe. In fact, the words flew so fast, Wotta applauded the sign language interpreter for keeping up with his quick talk.

Wotta also had another personal connection to this year’s graduation, as his brother was among those in the caps and gowns he spoke poetically to.

Bagpipe music filled the air as over 300 students in the OSU-Cascades graduating class started their procession in Harmon Park and crossed the footbridge to Drake Park.

It was the school’s 11th commencement, with a class up 25 percent from just a year ago.

A well-known Central Oregon native and OSU graduate gave the commencement address as graduates, family and friends looked on.

“Without love, trust and support, business success is not possible,” said Bob Eberhard, president of Eberhard Dairy Products.

“For life is not a dress rehearsal,” he later added. “It is the main event. There are no retakes, and the business world takes no prisoners.”

Eberhard’s company started as a four-person butter and dry milk operation, growing into a full-service dairy operation that delivers products throughout central and eastern Oregon.