Lankford to speak at NOC graduation

TONKAWA — U.S. Sen. James Lankford will address candidates for graduation at Northern Oklahoma College commencement exercises, college officials have announced.

NOC Tonkawa candidates, joined by NOC Stillwater candidates, will march into Foster-Piper Fieldhouse on the Tonkawa campus at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 2. That same day NOC Enid candidates will enter Briggs Auditorium on the Enid campus at 3 p.m. Approximately 875 students from the three campuses are expected to receive their associate degrees during the ceremonies.

Pinning ceremonies for graduates from the NOC nursing program will take place May 1 and 2. In Stillwater the ceremony begins at 7 p.m. Friday, May 1 in the Oklahoma State University Student Union. On the Tonkawa campus, the ceremony is set for noon Saturday, May 2 in the Kinzer Performing arts Center. The Enid ceremony takes place at 6 p.m. May 3 in Briggs Auditorium.

Lankford, 47, of Oklahoma City, won the senate seat that was vacated by U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, who resigned with two years left of his term, and was sworn in as the 18th senator from Oklahoma on Jan. 6, 2015. Lankford is a member of the Senate Republican Whip Team responsible for lining up votes on key issues and was assigned to four committees — Appropriations, Intelligence, Homeland Security and Government Affairs, and Indian Affairs.

In his capacity as a member of the Senate Select committee on Intelligence, he recently made a trip to the Middle East to meet with some foreign partners about how best to handle the terrorist threat and particularly the threat posed by ISIS.

Before assuming his duties as senator, Lankford served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives for the Fifth Congressional District of Oklahoma. While serving in the House, Lankford served on the most visible committee of the last few years — the Oversight and Government Reform panel, which investigated the killing of Americans in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012; the gun smuggling scandal called Fast and Furious; and the scrutiny IRS workers gave to conservative groups seeking tax-free status.

He also led a subcommittee that explored several issues already framed by others, including one of Coburn’s top concerns, the Social Security Disability program, and legal matters related to the Affordable Care Act. He was also an active member of the House Budget Committee.

Prior to serving in the House, Lankford was the student ministries and evangelism specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma , and he directed the Falls Creek Youth Camp in Davis, Okla. from 1996 to 2009. He also coordinated mission trips and community service trips overseas and in Oklahoma.

Lankford has been married to his wife Cindy for over 20 years and together, they have two daughters, Hannah and Jordan. He is a Christian in his worldview and daily life. He enjoys spending time with his family, sport shooting, and reading.

NOC, recently recognized by the Aspen Institute and SmartAsset as one of the best community colleges in the country , was established in 1901 as the University Preparatory School and is rich in history. Serving over 5,000 students, NOC is a public, two-year community college with campuses in Tonkawa, Enid and Stillwater. The college is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and offers associate degrees in three general areas: Arts, Science, and Applied Science. The associate degree fulfills lower-division course work which is applicable towards a bachelor’s degree.

For more information about Northern visit the NOC Website at www.noc.edu .