PCC’s 2012 Commencement Speaker Is Honors Student, Minister

April 30, 2012

Tucson, AZ – The Commencement Speaker for Pima Community College’s Class of 2012 is Dax W. Crocker, a native of Guatemala and a longtime minister in the U.S. and Europe.

Crocker is receiving his Associate of General Studies degree. He is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and, with a 3.9 grade point average, is among a select group of students. Only 88 PCC graduation candidates – 2.5 percent of the class – have a GPA of 3.9 or higher.

Crocker was selected from a pool of 16 possible speakers. The candidates had to undergo a rigorous application process that included an interview and delivery of a proposed speech.

“His speech was outstanding in addressing issues that we are facing today,” said Christy Yebra, chairwoman of PCC’s Graduation Search Committee. “He will represent the Class of 2012 and Pima Community College well.”

Crocker was born in Guatemala, moved to Los Angeles as a teen and then started a ministry in San Diego. When he got married, he and his wife became missionaries and moved the family to Sweden. After living there and elsewhere in Europe for a few years, they returned to the United States, where Crocker established and was pastor of a church in Rhode Island. He became a U.S. citizen and earned a General Educational Development certificate through the Community College of Rhode Island. He and his family moved to Tucson five years ago to start House of Glory Church.

Crocker plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies at The University of Arizona and a master’s degree in Religious Studies from Harvard University. He ultimately wants to earn a Ph.D. in Divinity, serve as a U.S. Air Force Reserve Guard chaplain and continue to develop his ministry in Tucson.

Graduation 2012 is Thursday, May 17, 2012, at the Tucson Convention Center Arena, 260 S. Church Ave. A total of 3,590 PCC students are candidates for graduation. The college expects to award 5,141 degrees and certificates to these students. Many PCC students earn more than one certificate and/or degree.

CONTACT:
C.J. Karamargin
Vice Chancellor for Public Information and Government Relations
(520) 206-4850
ckaramargin@pima.edu