Davidson-Davie Community College commencement features State Auditor Dave Boliek
Davidson-Davie Community College commencement honors 1,200 graduates with guest speaker State Auditor Dave Boliek
THOMASVILLE – “A twelve with two zeroes. Exactly. On the nose. Perfectly. This is what I like to call our magic number,” remarked Davidson-Davie Community College President Jenny Varner. The college celebrated the accomplishments of these 1,200 graduates during today’s commencement ceremony, which also included guest speaker Dave Boliek, the state auditor of North Carolina. Collectively, the college awarded 1,750 credentials, 608 associate degrees, 123 diplomas, 1,019 certificates and 140 college transfer pathway completions.
Boliek, who began his role as state auditor in 2024, addressed the graduates and reminded them that while the world is changing, there’s no reason to be afraid of what’s to come. “Whatever path you take, it’s OK. … Be patient. Work to be the best at whatever you do. You’ll be surprised at how far that will take you.”
He shared the importance of remembering foundations, including faith, family and friends. Boliek, a native of Lincolnton, N.C., has taken his career in many directions – including prosecutor, attorney, small business owner and more. Those life experiences are ones he used to move forward in his career – and he prompted students move forward with the knowledge and skills they acquired at Davidson-Davie. “You’re not going to realize this until after this day, and it may be years down the road. But you, as a graduate of Davidson-Davie Community College, are true beneficiaries of one of the greatest educational institutions in the country – the community college system in North Carolina. It’s a fantastic story. It will give you opportunities to move forward in ways you cannot believe.”
President Varner shared a poignant message to students – also reiterating that each and every student will follow a different journey. “We like to say here that we have pathways for every direction. … Crossing this stage means something different to each of you. For some, it means a new job, or for others, new skills for a current job. Some of you are transferring to four-year schools. You might not all know what comes next, and that’s OK.”
She noted the vast experiences of this graduating class – participating in STORM athletics, studying abroad, being involved in clubs, student life activities and more. “Not all of you are here for the same reason, or have had the same experiences, and your paths have been and will be different. That’s the beauty of education – you have all the freedom in the world to take your education and decide where you want to go next.
Varner added, “But I am going to promise you something – you might be crossing this stage to a new path, a new future – but just remember that you will always have a home here and will always be part of the Davidson-Davie family.”
Student Government President Jim Skotthy talked about his own path, and his decision to further his education after many years. “When I decided to explore whether it was possible to get a degree, I was nervous. I had been out of school for probably more years than most of you have been alive,” Skotthy said. “I wasn’t sure I had what it took to focus on studies, but I knew I wanted to erase a regret, so I took the step. … Before I knew it, I met people on campus who I realized were in my corner.”
Skotthy related every student had different reasons for enrolling at Davidson-Davie – “but whatever the reason you decided to come here it was because you decided that it was the right thing to do for you, and that was smart.”
He relished in the fact that Davidson-Davie is a hidden treasure, filled with students of all ages and backgrounds – a feature that he said enriches the academic experience and helps students gain deeper perspectives.
Skotthy explained he did not anticipate being a study body president – and especially giving a commencement speech – when he enrolled; it was unplanned and not without challenges. “I was taught at an early age to always try to leave something better than you found it.” His goal was help strengthen the campus community and create a path forward.
“While my voyage to this day is different than yours, we are now at the end of this journey together, I want to leave you with an Irish proverb, and it says the longest road out is the shortest road home,” Skotthy remarked. “You may not remember every word from today but remember this: You did something hard. … You’ve taken the long road out, which means you can take any road.”
Davidson-Davie Community College(www.DavidsonDavie.edu), which incorporated Davie County into its name in 2021, is a fully accredited, multi-campus college where students of all ages and backgrounds pursue academic and career-focused education in order to build successful futures. As one of 58 institutions within the North Carolina Community College System, Davidson-Davie offers more than 40 degree and professional certificate programs, as well as affordable college-credit coursework to students who plan to transfer to four-year schools. With a mission to serve the changing needs of students competing in a global environment, Davidson-Davie is committed to quality education, innovative and equitable learning experiences, training, and support across a wide range of 21st-century career fields.
