State Tech presented diplomas in three ceremonies on Saturday as a record 747 students make their way into the workforce, something keynote speaker Greg Venverloh did after earning his Associate of Applied Science degree in 2012 as part of the PowerSports Technology Program.

After graduation, Venverloh pursued the opportunity to work for Kawasaki Motors Corporation, a major powersports manufacturer. He is currently a field service advisor for Kawasaki and works out of the home office in St. Louis. He assists with more than 120 Kawasaki dealerships across seven states in the Midwest.

“It’s a dream job and a blessing that would not have happened were it not for my time spent here at State Tech,” Venverloh said. “I was truly excited to be invited here by the school, and I immediately accepted that invitation. I thought to myself, ‘How often does an opportunity like this arise?’ I also thought, ‘I’ve got months to prepare. I’ll be able to come up with something good to say.’ You be the judge.”

Venverloh said he began writing down thoughts and paragraphs in the evenings once in a while as the deadline drew closer, and one day he questioned his motivation for speaking to graduates.

“Why did I agree to this? Why did I want to speak?” Venverloh asked. “And I don’t mean, ‘Oh this is so hard, I don’t know what to do; why did I want to do this?’ No, that’s not what I was questioning. I mean, on a deeper level, what inside of me wanted to speak to you all? I’ll tell ya what I’ve got so far, I don’t know. I don’t know the answer to that right now but I will find out why I am here today.”

He asked graduates why they chose to attend State Tech.

“Why did you want to go to school here? Why did you want to see it through and graduate? Some of you might say, ‘I didn’t have a choice. Dad said I need to go to college or start paying him rent,’ or maybe you say, ‘Well, it was either this or live on the street.’ Okay, So why are you here?” Venverloh said.

He noted that graduates could have been paying their parents rent or living on the street.

“You could be doing any number of other things, but you are here,” he continued. “Whether you think so or not, you wanted to be here. Something inside of you told you this was the path to take. And you may not know why now but I bet you will find out.”

Venverloh told g graduates that life is full of decisions to make. “We don’t always know why we want what we want,” he said. “But oftentimes, there is a reason that gets shown further down the line. I didn’t know why I loved motorcycles so much. I still don’t fully understand why I still love them today.“

In 2016, Venverloh began racing sportbikes at road-course tracks across the Midwest, following the Midwest Café Racing Association (MCRA). After winning the 2017 MCRA’s Amateur Class Championship, Venverloh moved to the MCRA Expert Class and was elected MCRA president in 2018. Venverloh left the MCRA and joined the Championship Cup Series (CCS) for the Midwest region in 2020. This summer he will race in his first MotoAmerica Pro Race at Road America Raceway in Wisconsin.

“I’m constantly learning and having new, wonderful experiences in many aspects, from racing to adventures, to working on them, to working with businesses who sell them,” Venverloh said. “But back when I started, I never would have guessed that they would take me here. I never would have thought an education in fixing powersports vehicles would put me in a corporate role at one of the largest manufactures in the industry’s history. I never thought that my education would eventually grant me the opportunity to race sportbikes with my knees and elbows dragging across the pavement at 100-plus miles per hour. I never thought it would put me in a position to fly across the country and see some amazing sights, and meet amazing people, and I certainly never thought it would put me up on a stage to talk to you all today.”

Venverloh reminded graduates that he had walked across the stage in 2012. “That’s not even 10 years ago,” he said. “And these are some of the things that State Tech has helped me do. I’ve got way more years to go than I’ve completed, and that’s freaking exciting to me. To me, that’s the ultimate goal! When you are excited about tomorrow, about next week, next month, and so on. When you have an education like you all have, the opportunities ahead are exciting, even the ones that you don’t know are coming, especially the ones that you don’t know are coming. When you have that in front of you, and you’re excited about tomorrow, that’s the ultimate goal.”

Venverloh added that he hopes that’s how graduates feel. “Mix that with some nervousness, too, there’s nothing wrong with that, but I really think you all should be very excited, as I am for you,” he said. “I think you’ve got more ahead of you than you realize and I hope all of that is part of why you are here today. I don’t know why I wanted to speak today, just like I don’t know why I wanted to attend school here. Just like many of you may not know why you wanted to complete this journey, but I’m figuring it out. Day after day, you bet I’m figuring it out. And I bet you all are too. You’ll see.”

Venverloh’s success in racing provided him an opportunity to propose to his girlfriend on the podium during his victory speech. Greg and Mindy were married in 2019 and welcomed their beautiful baby girl in November of 2020.

State Tech President Dr. Shawn Strong told graduates that last year, he made the statement that the first-ever tailgate graduation would go down in history.

“Yet, here we are again, outside, hopefully near the end of a global pandemic,” said Dr. Strong. “A hundred years from now, when someone mentions COVID-19, I suspect it will still have some significance. You will be one of the few that graduated from a college that did not go primarily online this year. In the history of State Tech, you’ll be the second class to graduate outside.”

Dr. Strong added that he is very proud of the State Tech faculty and staff. “The board and I are grateful for all they have done to enable this graduation,” he said, adding his appreciation to parents and family members for their sacrifices in helping students achieve this milestone.

Even with a lot of help, Dr. Strong said this day would not have been possible without students taking ownership of their education and the commitment necessary to graduate.

“We know you came to the best (two-year) college in the country to get a hands-on education, and we’re proud of the way you responded to adversity,” Dr. Strong continued. “This will serve you well later in life, just as those who went through the Great Depression or a world war, it’s our life experience that makes us and shapes us. You will look back on your time at State Tech as a defining moment in your life. We’re all proud of you, and know we have prepared you to meet the next challenge.”

Vice President of Development Shannon Grus told graduates they are now part of an elite family — the State Tech family. “You have the key to your success — you are a State Tech grad,” she said. “Like any family, we do have some expectations. First, our family supports each other. We will be there for you, and we hope you will be there for us. Whether you need career assistance or just advice from an instructor, we will support you. Second, we want you to stay informed. As you know, things can change rapidly, and staying informed about what’s happening at State Tech will only make you a better family member. Last, we want you to stay involved. Don’t let graduation be the end of your involvement but just the beginning of a lifetime of involvement. No matter how you choose to do it, just stay involved. Congratulations, and welcome to our successful, high-achieving, hardworking, and sometimes a little crazy family.”

Regents President John A. Klebba congratulated graduates for their hard work and achievements. Regents VP Steve Sellenriek, of Jonesburg, and members Ed Frederick, of Boonville, Kevin O’Mara, of St. Louis, and Shanda Trautman, of Springfield, were also on hand for Saturday’s commencement exercises.

Jacob Bowne, who earned a degree in business administration with an accounting option, was presented this year’s President’s Award, which is given based on the student’s demonstration of leadership, citizenship, character, and service to the college.

“This year’s recipient is no exception,” said Dr. Strong.