Northland Pioneer College (NPC) will celebrate its 51st Commencement on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at the Holbrook Unified School District Football stadium, 10th Avenue, to Roadrunner Stadium Rd. Holbrook AZ. General admission and seating begin at 9 a.m. NPC encourages families, friends, and members of the public to celebrate the 2025 graduates. Field seating is restricted to individuals with reserved tickets. Open seating will be available in the stadium's bleachers. Guests and graduates are invited to a President's Reception immediately following the ceremony.
The ceremony will be streamed live on YouTube. Visit www.youtube.com/@NpcEducollege/streams to access the live feed.
The commencement speaker is Representative Walter “Walt” Blackman, who made history in 2018 as the first Black American elected to the Arizona House of Representatives. Representative Blackman is a U.S. Army combat veteran with 21 years of distinguished service, earning honors including the Bronze Star and Meritorious Service Medal. After retiring, he founded W.B. Inclusion and Diversity Consulting to support survivors of sexual assault and harassment. He is also a youth mentor and advocates for veterans, education, and rural development. His journey reflects resilience, leadership, and a lifelong commitment to service, empowerment, and making a positive impact in his community.
This year marks the inaugural celebration of graduates from NPC’s bachelor’s degree programs. Larissa Barela of Winslow, Cheryl Carlson of Holbrook, Kristopher Herder of Leupp, and Amandalynn Truax of Fort Apache will graduate with their Bachelor of Applied Science in Elementary Education. Additionally, 64 NPC graduates are receiving transfer degrees. Of those degrees, 27 Associate of Arts degrees will be awarded, five of whom will earn their Associate of Arts in Elementary Education. One student will earn an Associate of Arts in Early Childhood. Twelve students are taking home an Associate of Business degree. The Associate of General Studies degree will be conferred upon eighteen graduates. Seven students will earn their Associate of Science. One hundred eight graduates are recipients of the Associate of Applied Science degree. An additional 127 students have earned a Certificate of Applied Science. Three hundred sixty students will earn Certificates of Proficiency. Actual degrees and certificates will be conferred upon final grades and credit verification.
Five outstanding graduates will address their peers during the ceremony. These outstanding graduates are recognized for their top grade-point averages and overall academic achievements. Joel Brashear of Show Low is the top Associate of Arts graduate. Ammon Tingey of Snowflake/Taylor is the top graduate for the Associate of Business degree. Eric Jeide of Show Low is the outstanding graduate with an Associate of General Studies degree. Caleb Anson of Snowflake/Taylor is the top graduate for the Associate of Science, and NPC's top Associate of Applied Science graduate is Audra Rhoton, also of Snowflake/Taylor.
Joel Brashear - NPC Outstanding Associate of Arts Graduate. 
Outstanding Associate of Arts graduate Joel Brashear began his journey at NPC during his freshman year of high school. He was homeschooled, and NPC offered a perfect opportunity for him to get hands-on science experience. So, along with his brother and father, he enrolled in a college-level chemistry class. “I think my dad took the class to help ease us into the college experience,” he said. “It was cool to have him there working on projects with us,” he laughed. “He said we outpaced him pretty quickly.” Although Joel enjoys science, for him, film, video games, and production are what intrigue him. He enjoys creative writing and storytelling and would love to one day work in video game production. He is also quite skilled in accounting and enjoys business mathematics. His goal is to continue his education, whether it be in accounting or video game production, or perhaps both. Joel is graduating at the top of his class and is a member of NPC’s Alpha Gamma Tau Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and has been named to NPC’s President’s List several times. His favorite quote exemplifies his creative imagination and his drive to take advantage of opportunities and be thankful for what he has: “When freaky aliens give you lemons, make freaky alien lemonade.”
Audra Rhoton - NPC Outstanding Associate of Applied Science Graduate.
Fellow outstanding graduate Audra Rhoton, of Snowflake/Taylor, is obtaining her Associate of Applied Science degree in cosmetology from NPC and will receive her degree from NPC before her High School Diploma from Snowflake High School later this month. For Audra, earning her degree through NPC’s NAVIT program while in high school was always something her parents stressed. With a flair for artistry and a love for meeting and interacting with new people, cosmetology was a perfect fit. She particularly enjoys doing intricate updos and, upon passing her state board test, hopes to work locally and perfect her craft with a specialty in bridal beauty. Audra has enjoyed her educational journey with NPC’s cosmetology department, which she says is a sort of “family.” She explained, “I felt very welcomed, and everyone was kind and always supporting each other and cheering each other on.” Audra is a high achiever and is graduating at the top of her class. She has been recognized on NPC’s President’s list and earned first place in the regional SkillsUSA competition earlier this spring. For Audra, her hard work ethic was instilled by her family, whose motto is “there’s no off-ramp.” When it comes to facing life’s challenges. “I don’t give myself the choice to fail,” she said. “It’s not an option.”
Ammon Tingey - NPC Outstanding Associate of Business Graduate.
Ammon Tingey is this year's outstanding graduate in NPC’s business department. While not attending classes, he and his wife manage a business in the area. He is also a Seminary teacher for a class of over one hundred students at Show Low High School. He graduated from Snowflake High School and, after serving a mission in Seattle and Buenos Aires, Argentina, took advantage of NPC’s hometown offerings, low tuition rates, and the credits he had accumulated in high school through NPC and set out to complete his degree. He plans to continue his education at NPC and enter the college’s new Bachelor of Applied Management program. He hopes to eventually earn his MBA and one day would like to start a program for teens and young adults that combines spirituality with outdoor adventure and focuses on healthy mental and professional growth. Helping others flourish and do good things is something he intends to spend his life working on. He is a high achiever and is self-motivated to do well. He is a member of NPC’s Alpha Gamma Tau Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and has been named to the President’s and Dean’s lists. He attributes his love for learning and trying new things to his family setting a good example and motivating him to pursue a higher education, specifically his wife, who has encouraged and supported him. He enjoys spending time with her, making new memories, and loves going out on dates. “We enjoy the outdoors and finding new adventures,” he said. For Ammon, his favorite quote speaks to his journey thus far: “Fight Hard. Love Much.”
Eric Jeide - NPC Outstanding Associate of General Studies Graduate.
Outstanding graduate, Eric Jeide, is a senior at Show Low High School and will earn his diploma nearly a week after first completing his degree requirements and earning an associate degree from NPC. He started by taking courses through NPC’s TALON program and excelled. He is a varsity football athlete, a member of the National Honor Society, FBLA, the Link Crew, and Spanish Club, and has been named to NPC’s Dean’s list. After graduating, he will embark on a mission through the Church of Latter-day Saints to Lusaka, Zambia, in central Africa. Upon returning, he plans to enroll in Brigham Young University, Provo, as a pre-med student. He hopes to one day become a surgeon. Having been surrounded by role models in the medical field, he has always had a fascination with the human body and anatomy. For him, helping people and potentially saving lives is what he wants to do professionally. Coming off a particularly grueling football season, he has enjoyed pushing himself physically as well as mentally and is proud of his achievements. He loves to learn and believes that doing things well is a reflection of his personality and desire to succeed. His favorite quote from the movie Batman Begins echoes his outlook on life: “A man who doesn’t share his failures has nothing to teach.”
Caleb Anson - NPC Outstanding Associate of Science Graduate.
Caleb Anson and his family relocated to the Snowflake area from Utah when he was fifteen. He graduated from Snowflake High School, where he was an avid and talented runner and multi-medalist for the school’s cross-country team. After high school, he embarked on a two-year mission to Brazil, where he learned to speak Portuguese and absorbed both the country’s rich heritage and culture, and the significance of his faith. He is being recognized for high academic achievement and will earn an Associate of Science degree at the top of NPC’s 2025 graduating class. Caleb is a member of NPC’s Alpha Gamma Tau Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and has been named to NPC’s President’s and Dean’s lists. He was also a member of the prestigious All-Arizona Academic team earlier this spring. As he continues his academic journey, Caleb will attend the University of Arizona’s College of Applied Science and Technology and pursue a degree in intelligence studies. He is interested in international affairs and relations and hopes to one day work for a federal institution, possibly with the FBI, to combat terrorism and national security threats. He credits his intended career path to his loyalty and a desire to protect and help people. As he embarks on the next chapter, he will be joined by his soon-to-be bride, whom he will marry this summer. “I am excited for the future and am thankful to NPC for being a part of my story so far.”
NPC would like to congratulate these outstanding students and their peers as they complete their journey with NPC as the graduating class of 2025.
Northland Pioneer College serves the residents of Navajo and Apache counties through four regional campuses and five centers with various educational options for academic, career, technical, and personal enrichment. NPC supports each student's educational goals through affordable tuition, small class sizes, and caring, professional instructors. For more information about NPC programs and services, visit www.npc.edu or call (800) 266-7845.
