Special graduation ceremony held for KCKCC student athlete

by Mary Rupert

Armoni Shorter had been looking forward to graduation day May 24 at Kansas City Kansas Community College, but he was in the hospital that day.

So on May 27, graduation came to Shorter’s hospital room at Providence Medical Center.

KCKCC President Doris Givens and other college officials awarded Shorter his degree in his hospital room, with caps and gowns and commencement music.

It was the first time anyone at the college can remember a KCKCC commencement ceremony at a hospital room. Shorter is special, according to his coach.

“He’s touched a lot of people in his two-and-a-half years at KCKCC,” said KCKCC basketball coach Kelley Newton.

Shorter was a starter for the Blue Devils’ basketball team, and at the same time, he did outstanding academic work, with a 3.33 grade point average the first semester of his sophomore year and 3.44 the second semester, Newton said. His degree was in general studies, and he’s leaning toward business management.

It wasn’t always easy for Shorter, who is the oldest of seven children and the first one of the children to graduate from college. While he was at KCKCC, his mother died, Newton said. One of her wishes was for him to graduate, he said.

“He showed a lot of strength and got it done,” Newton said.

On May 24, Shorter’s dad walked across the stage for him, and on May 27, the graduation ceremony came to his hospital room.

“It was a unique situation that had a unique outcome,” Newton said. “It meant a lot to Armoni.”

Since graduation, Shorter has been released from the hospital and is with his family in Chicago, Ill.

“He’s expected to have a full recovery,” Newton said, and Shorter is expected to play basketball this fall.

Shorter has received a basketball scholarship to Presentation College in Aberdeen, S.D., where he will continue his basketball and academic career, Newton said.