Normandale Community College will honor its graduates at the annual Commencement Ceremony on Monday, May 18 at 6:30 p.m. at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, Minn.
The livestream link is available to anyone who wants to watch the live ceremony virtually.
Approximately 490 graduates are participating in the ceremony, which will honor summer 2025 and fall 2025 graduates, along with candidates for spring 2026 graduation.
The student speaker is Student Senate President Romeo Pech Moo. During his time at Normandale, Pech Moo has been part of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society along with his duties as Student Senate President. He is a first-generation student who his graduating with high honors in Health Science Broad Field. Pech Moo has spent the past year advocating for the student body, representing Normandale in public facing events, and dedicating countless hours strengthening and serving the campus community.
The alumni speaker will be Dr. Cyrus Batheja. Dr. Batheja was recently named the President and Chief Executive Officer of Ecumen, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing innovative housing, healthcare, and community-based services for older adults.
He was a 2002 graduate of Normandale, where he earned his Associate of Science degree before becoming a registered nurse. Dr. Batheja went on to earn his Bachelors of Science in Nursing and MBA from Augsburg University, and his Doctor of Education from University of St. Thomas.
Prior to joining Ecumen, he held senior leadership roles at UnitedHealthcare and Optum, including serving as National Vice President of Nursing at OptumRx, where he led a team of more than 1,500 nurses delivering critical therapies across the United States.
Dr. Batheja is also the co-founder of Batheja Supportive Living Services, serves on the Board of Regents at Augsburg University, and was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 2022.
Other ceremony highlights will include the awarding of this year’s Distinguished Faculty Award Winner and the Staff Member of Distinction. Last year’s Distinguished Faculty Award Winner was Biology Instructor Ngawang Gonsar, who will speak at this year’s ceremony. The 2025 Staff Member of Distinction was TRIO Student Support Services Student Success Coach Aucuria Harrison.
Dr. Pakou Yang, who was recently appointed Normandale Community College President after serving as interim president from June 2025 to April 2026, will also speak at Commencement. Dr. Yang is the first Hmong American college or university president in the United States.
President of the Normandale Faculty Association Dan Norgard and Minnesota State College and Universities Trustee Jana Johnson will also speak at the ceremony.
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