Colonel John Lawrence, Garrison Commander at Fort Riley, will give the commencement address at Barton Community College. BCC’s 47th commencement is set for 7 p.m. Friday, May 12, in the Barton Gymnasium.
Lawrence received his commission as a Field Artillery Officer from the Officer Candidate School in 1994, after completing 10 years of enlisted service.
Col. Lawrence’s deployments have included Germany, where he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; Fort Knox, Ky., and Fort Riley, where he deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom; and as the Garrison Commander, Bagram Support Group, Bagram, Afghanistan where he was deployed in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Joint Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Superior Unit Award and the Combat Action Badge.

During the ceremonies, two Outstanding Graduates will be recognized. Barton’s Distinguished Instructor Awards and the Distinguished Service Award will also be presented.
Video of the ceremony will be live streamed via Barton’s Facebook page at facebook.com/bartoncommunitycollege and photos will be available on Flickr at bartonccc.edu/gradpics.

Other events on campus Friday include:
• MLT student pinning ceremony at 9:30 a.m. in Dorothy Moses Morrison Chapel, F-157
• Honors reception at 1 p.m. in the Student Union
• Nurse pinning ceremony at 2:30 p.m. in Fine Arts Auditorium followed by 3:30 p.m. reception in Student Union
• Paramedic cording at 3:30 p.m. in Shafer Gallery, F-157.

The college will hold its Fort Riley graduation ceremony May 25 at Manhattan and Fort Leavenworth graduation June 7 at Fort Leavenworth.