Northwest Technical College celebrated its graduating class of 2026 — which included its largest ever class of 57 American Indian graduates — during May 8 commencement ceremonies.
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STUDENT SPEAKER
Tyrell Jackson, graduating from NTC’s Dental Assisting program, addressed the Class of 2026. He called attending NTC “the best decision I have made for my life so far.”
He said that his wish for his graduating classmates was for their dreams to come true.
“I hope to see you all become what you had in mind when starting out,” he said.
He said he was thankful for finding the ability to stay focused on his studies in spite of challenges, and that he knows others in the Class of 2026 had overcome similar obstacles.
“There are many people here who are going through something in their lives, and every day can be a fight to keep going,” he said. “We all want to find something for ourselves, and that is why we get up every day. It took me years to find something for myself, but I’m glad to be here today.”
NTC PRESIDENT JOHN L. HOFFMAN
Dr. John L. Hoffman, president of NTC and Bemidji State University, asked graduates to reflect on their legacy, and to consider what gifts they would be passing forward into their futures.
“You are being sent out on a mission with authority you have earned through your degree, and I ask you to act in ways so that your memory will have an ongoing impact for good.”
Hoffman also called on graduates to follow the examples of this year’s NTC IMPACT Award recipient Karla Eischens, retired president and CEO of Sanford Health of Bemidji.
“Having worked with her for the last three years her legacy is tied to community, to bringing out the best in others,” Hoffman said. “She understands that health outcomes are tied to educational outcomes, which are tied to housing outcomes, which are tied to workforce and economic outcomes in our community. She has brought all of these things together, because the challenges ahead of us are greater than any one person can solve.”
He also invited students to consider their place amongst the land, water and air of the North Woods region. He reflected on lessons learned from the Ojibwe and Dakota people during his four years as NTC and Bemidji State University president.
“The land, water and air are not resources to be owned, used or consumed. They are entities in and of themselves,” he said. “They have a history and they have a future. This land, this water, this air has a legacy — a mission, an authority, an enduring impact on those around it.”
“You are part of the legacy of Karla Eischens,” he said. “You are also part of the legacy of this land and water and air.”
NTC IMPACT AWARD RECIPIENT KARLA EISCHENS
Karla Eischens, retired president and CEO of Sanford Health of Bemidji, delivered NTC’s 2026 commencement address as this year’s recipient of the NTC IMPACT Award.
Eischens earned her nursing assistant certification at NTC while in high school, then completed a pre-pharmacy degree at Bemidji State before moving on to the University of Minnesota’s pharmacy school.
She told students that her path to success was not always so clear.
“Too often only the polished versions of stories like this get told — and I do not have a polished version,” she said. “There were difficult moments where I wasn’t sure I would pass a class, was uncertain about where I was headed, and moments where I questioned whether I truly belonged in the rooms I was walking into.”
She told graduates that there will not be a moment where everything is certain, so in those moments they should choose courage.
“Courage isn’t the absence of doubt,” she said. “It’s choosing to move forward.”
She reminded graduates that at every step in their journey, the relationships they build with others would be crucial to their success, and that not everything that carried them to this moment is meant to be carried forward.
“Growth doesn’t stop when you earn this degree,” she said. “In fact, if you’re doing life right you’ll be constantly growing and changing. What matters most are the people you meet, the relationships you build and the influence you have — sometimes without even realizing it.”
She closed by reminding graduates that everyone they meet has a story, and their own set of challenges with difficulties that may change from day-to-day or that may have troubled them for some time.
“Every one of us is an iceberg,” she said. “We choose what people see on the surface while carrying unseen challenges underneath.”
She asked that graduates have the courage to elevate others, build relationships across differences and to be the kind of teammate others can trust during challenging times.
“One day you won’t measure your life by titles or milestones; you’ll measure it by the people you supported, the teams you strengthened, and the moments you chose empathy over ease,” she said. “Let that be the legacy you carry forward.”
About the NTC Impact Award
NTC’s Innovation, Mastery, Progress, Achievement, Community and Technology (IMPACT) Award honors individuals who demonstrate exceptional innovation through creative problem-solving, mastery of technical skills and outstanding academic performance. It recognizes progress in personal and professional growth, achievements in competitions and projects and community engagement through active participation and collaboration. The award also acknowledges the application of technology to develop practical and ethical solutions to problems while making meaningful contributions to NTC, the Bemidji community and the region’s workforce through service and study in technical fields.
OTHER GREETINGS
Minnesota State Board of Trustees
Jim Grabowska, a member of the Board of Trustees for the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities, congratulated graduates for their hard work, dedication and perseverance. He said the entire Minnesota State system believes in them and in their future success.
“Each of you represents hope for a bright and bold future — for your families, for your communities, for Minnesota and for our world,” he said.
NTC Foundation
Jenny Neubeck, president of the NTC Foundation board and vice president of remote services at Affinity Plus Credit Union, welcomed the Class of 2026 to NTC’s alumni society.
She spoke of the support that the NTC Foundation had offered to many of the graduates through scholarships and other support.
“That support may have helped open doors, but your commitment, resilience and hard work are what carried you across the finish line,” she said. “You earned this moment.”
NTC’s CLASS OF 2026: BY THE NUMBERS
NTC’s class of 2026 earned:
- 39 associate of applied science degrees
- 113 associate of science degrees
- 105 diplomas
- 86 certificates
In addition, 194 graduates were recognized as Honors Graduates for completing their academic careers with grade point averages of at least 3.50.
NTC also recognized 13 graduates who are current or veteran members of the military and 16 graduates who are members of the Phi Theta Kappa national honor society.
Fall classes begin Monday, August 24, 2026. To learn more or to register for classes, visit NTCMN.edu.