Edison State Honors Graduates

Edison State Community College proudly recognized the achievements of the Class of 2025 during its 50th annual commencement ceremony. The event, held at the Piqua Campus on Friday, May 16, brought together graduates, family, and friends as students completed this significant chapter of their educational journeys.

“We’re so very proud of you,” Edison State President Chris Spradlin told graduates. “It is our honor to celebrate your accomplishments today, because you’ve allowed us to participate with you in a tremendous change in your life.”

“Embarking on a college education is, by its definition, a great change. Learning is change—a change in your knowledge, a change in your skills, a change in your attitude, a change in who you are. Now, you have pursued this change, this learning, to make a better life for yourself and for those around you.”

He added, “Today we celebrate your commitment to positive change and your persistence in seeing it through. That attitude and approach toward change will serve you well as your new life commences today. We at Edison State are grateful to have been a part of your change. We congratulate you, and we look forward to you changing us—our community and our world—with your talents.”

The commencement ceremony included a keynote address from Edison State alumnus Shannon Clark, a musical artist, songwriter, and small business owner. His band, Shannon Clark and the Sugar, is an Americana group from Darke County that has played at honky-tonks, theaters, festivals, and more across the country. The group was the winner of the 2025 International Songwriting Competition.

“First of all, congratulations to the graduating class! You made it,” said Clark. “You crossed the finish line. Some of you even crossed it on time, which is impressive. And if nobody else told you this today, let me be the first: you did well.”

“I’m familiar with risk, failure, chasing dreams, and figuring it out as I go,” Clark continued. “The fear of failing is worse than failing itself. Failure is not the enemy. Every ‘flop’ teaches you something—how to adjust, how to stay humble, and most importantly, how to laugh at yourself.”

Clark encouraged graduates to be good neighbors to everyone they meet. He said that means “listening before judging. It’s showing up for people even when it’s inconvenient. It’s offering help without needing recognition. When you’re a good neighbor, you create ripples. You make it safer for someone else to be themselves. You inspire folks to be just a little more generous, a little more patient. And eventually, that adds up to better schools, better towns, better lives.”

“Now, some of you are graduating with honors. Some of you are the first in your family to walk across this stage. Some of you worked two jobs and still made the Dean’s List. Some of you barely made it, but you made it—and let me tell you, that counts. However you got here, I want you to hear me say this: you are already a success.”

He concluded, “Edison State graduates, I’m proud of you. Your journey might have started here, but it doesn’t end here. Go take those dreams out into the world. Be bold. Be gritty. Be loving. And when you fall—and you will—just remember: dirt washes off.”

The Class of 2025 includes 551 graduates earning 679 degrees and certificates. Degrees and certificates completed include those in career and transfer programs such as arts, business, communication, engineering and manufacturing, health sciences, humanities, information technology, mathematics, science, and social and public services.

Edison State Community College’s Class of 2025*

• 551 graduates earned 679 degrees and certificates.
  • 34% are career degrees.
  • 25% are transfer degrees.
  • 14% are one-year certificates.
  • 27% are short-term certificates.
• Ages range from 17.3 to 62.3. Median age is 21.9. 277 (50.27%) are 21 or younger and 14 (2.54 %) are 50 or older.
• 48 will graduate with honors (GPA 3.5-3.74), 43 with high honors (GPA 3.75-3.99), and 28 with highest honors (GPA 4.0).
• 62% are female, 38% male.
• 36% live in Miami County, 20% in Shelby County and 17% in Darke County.
• 19 Ohio counties are represented.
• 66 graduates are high school seniors and 1 is a high school junior.
• 15% of graduates completed at least one developmental course.
• 35% transferred credit hours to Edison State.
• 195 students with transfer credit totaled 6,530 hours transferred, averaging 33 hours per student.

*Figures represent graduates in academic year 2024-25 as of May 13, 2025 
Office of Institutional Research