“I find seeds to be fascinating things,” Naig said in his commencement speech.

Seeds of different sizes germinate at different rates. The size of a seed does not necessarily dictate the size of the plant. And a seed can lay dormant for years before sprouting with new life.

“I want you to think about seeds that have been planted in your life and where you have been planted,” Naig told the graduates.

The first seed of success is adaptability — a trait that became necessary in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two years. The second seed is determination. Naig talked about the aftermath of the August 2020 derecho. He said he saw Iowa farm families who had endured everything from two world wars in the early 1900s, to the Farm Crisis of the 1980s, to pandemics and natural disasters, to market challenges.

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“There is a palpable spirit of determination in the Iowa community,” he said.

The third seed of success is the value of one’s response, Naig said.

“We can’t choose our timing, we can’t choose our circumstances, but we can choose our response,” he said.

The final seed of success is one’s ability to impact others.

“As you leave here today … you’re going to scatter and you’re going to pursue those next chapters in your lives,” Naig said. “The skills and the lessons and the experiences that you gained here, the relationships that you gained, those are now seeds to your success.”

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Iowa Central President Dr. Jesse Ulrich gave his first commencement address as the college’s top administrator.

“Our goal at Iowa Central is very simple — we want students to come to Iowa Central and finish their degrees and certifications in the shortest amount of time, with the least amount of student loan debt so they can have a better life,” he said. “Graduates, your path to a better life starts today. We know that the road to a better life begins today, because in this room are future Triton Hall-of-Famers — you are the world-changers, the difference-makers that our communities need.”

During the ceremony, a faculty member and a staff member were awarded the Golden Triton Award, which is given in recognition of their excellent service to Iowa Central Community College students.

The faculty recipient was Jacob Zweibohmer, associate instructor in business and web/graphics technology coordinator. The staff recipient was Paul DeCoursey, the college’s public information director.

Graduate and Iowa Central Student Senate President Jaedyn Condon, of Fort Dodge, addressed the family, friends, teachers and loved ones who helped those graduates along their scholastic journey.

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“We have all heard the saying ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ and I think that is something that we can all relate to, especially on a day like this,” she said. “We are all here because of our own hard work, but also because of all the people in the crowd who have never given up on us and have always pushed us to do our best. … We all need to give credit to our village.”

Kirstin Schaefer, of Onslow, gave the other student address on Thursday.

“Don’t let others label you or limit your possibilities.” she told her classmates. “Today, I leave Iowa Central with a different mentality. One that makes me feel like I’m ready to take on the world and I am capable of anything, and so are all of you.”

As Naig concluded his commencement address, he left the graduates with a mission:

“Take those seeds of success that have been planted in your lives, and plant them in others’,” he said. “Invest in your families, in your colleagues, in your communities.”

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Maqueketa's (left to right) Roy Gerlach, Thayne Chapin, Isaac Crigt toss their caps after Iowa Central's commencement ceremony on Thursday inside Hodges Fieldhouse.

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Esther Mensah, of Minnesota, tosses her cap after Iowa Central's commencement ceremony on Thursday.

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Elizabeth Ruiz, of Fort Dodge, shows her daughters Naomi, 6, and Amelia Ruiz, 4, photos from Iowa Central commencement ceremony on Thursday.

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Joann Grossnickle, of Fort Dodge, holds up a photo of Jerry Leadley Sr., who passed away in August, and Arlene Milburger, who passed away in May 2020. Grossnickle's son, Jerry Leadley Jr., graduated from Iowa Central on Thursday and Grossnickle brought the photos of his dad and grandmother to show their support.