CCC Plans Commencement, Honors Alumni
(Grand Island, Neb.) – Central Community College will hold commencement ceremonies for its Columbus, Grand Island and Hastings campuses on Friday, May 9.
The keynote speakers will be this year’s Outstanding Alumni Award recipients.
The Grand Island and Hastings ceremonies will be held at the Heartland Events Center in Grand Island. The Grand Island commencement will begin at 10 a.m. with Paulina Ortega of Grand Island as the keynote speaker. The Hastings commencement will be held at 2:30 p.m. with Alex Kemnitz of Grand Island as the keynote speaker.
The Columbus Campus commencement will be held at 7 p.m. in the Physical Education Center with Quelbin Izaguirre of Columbus as the keynote speaker.
CCC will livestream all three ceremonies at https://www.cccneb.edu/graduation.
CCC-Grand Island Names Outstanding Alumni Award Winner
Paulina Ortega of Grand Island has been selected as the 2025 Outstanding Alumni Award recipient from Central Community College-Grand Island.
She graduated from CCC-Grand Island in 2021 with an associate of applied science degree in human services.
After graduation, she volunteered for AmeriCorps, supporting the Salvation Army, Goodwill and the Zone, an after-school program for middle schoolers. She also packed meals for the homeless as a Hastings YWCA volunteer.
In 2023, Ortega returned to CCC to work as an apprenticeship coordinator for the Grand Island area. In this role, she works with instructors, students and companies to facilitate on-the-job learning experiences that benefit the local community.
In addition to her professional and volunteer work, she is the owner of Los Forasteros Snacks, LLC, which offers customized mobile bar services featuring mini pancakes, strawberries and cream cups, and corn and nachos. She manages the Facebook page for her and two other businesses and handles private messages and event bookings.
She and her husband, Michael, also open their home to foster children and enjoy providing them with a loving and supportive environment.
CCC-Hastings Names Outstanding Alumni Award Winner
Alex Kemnitz has been selected as the 2025 Outstanding Alumni Award recipient from Central Community College-Hastings.
He is a 2018 graduate of CCC-Hastings with an associate of applied science degree in advanced manufacturing and design technology. As a student there, he also served as a tutor and resident assistant, experiences he contributes to his personal and career success.
After CCC, he studied skilled and technical science education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and later earned a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Nebraska-Kearney.
His career has been spent at The Academies of Grand Island Senior High School where he is known as “King Nerd” and has a reputation for creating positive learning environments and building a rigorous but fun robotics and engineering program for students of all backgrounds.
Kemnitz is involved in supporting extracurricular programs in Nebraska such as the VEX Robotics organization, for which he serves as head coach for the 8151 Islander Robotics Team. He also is a state officer adviser and board member for SkillsUSA Nebraska, a career and technical student organization.
He and his wife, Bethany, make their home in Grand Island.
CCC-Columbus Names Outstanding Alumni Award Winner
Quelbin Izaguirre of Columbus has been selected as the 2024 Outstanding Alumni Award recipient from Central Community College-Columbus.
He graduated from CCC-Columbus in 2023 with an associate of arts degree and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Wayne State College and a master’s degree in economics from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
Izaguirre credits his educational background for equipping him with the skills necessary to drive sustainable development and economic empowerment, including in his current position at NeighborWorks Northeast Nebraska. As its chief operating officer, he plays a pivotal role in expanding access to safe and affordable housing, helping more than 1,000 families in northeast Nebraska achieve homeownership and housing stability.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Izaguirre is a passionate advocate for community engagement. He serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, including the Central Community College Foundation, Discover Hope International Church, the Nebraska Housing Developers Association, Centro Hispano, and the Columbus Area Children’s Museum. He also contributes to business and civic engagement as a member of the Commodores in Columbus.
He and his wife, Danica, have three children.