By KALEY LYON

klyon@dailynews.net

Steve Sunley long had considered the possibility of going back to school.

A Hays native and graduate of Hays High School, Sunley served in the Army for several years before deciding to get his associate's degree.

It was that decision that led him to the commencement stage Saturday afternoon, as about 100 North Central Kansas Technical College students were presented with one-year certificates and associate's degrees.

"I worked lots of different jobs, and just never found the one I liked doing," Sunley said. "So then I figured I'd come back to school and see what happens."

What happened is that Sunley's dedication to education resulted in a new job, even before graduation. He began work in at Midland Marketing as an accounts payable clerk about two weeks ago and is excited to see where the opportunity will lead him, he said.

Sunley always had been interested in finance, so pursuing a degree in general business wasn't a hard decision for him to make.

"If I was going back to school, I knew that was what I wanted to do," Sunley said. "I thought, all these other people are going to school, why not me?"

Sunley was one of more than 40 students who earned an associate's degree Saturday, walking into Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center to the tune of "Pomp and Circumstance."

More than 50 additional students were presented with a one-year certificate, and many of them plan to complete the other year necessary for a degree, said Roberta Augustine, a business technology instructor.

"Our goal for them is, we want to make them employable," Augustine said. "We hope they do get employment where they want to live, and I was happy to see that Steve got a job really before he was out of school."

Both Augustine and Sunley know that there is a growing need for skilled workers among today's employers, and this was a sentiment also expressed by the ceremony's guest speaker, Phyllis LaShell.

LaShell, a regional workforce recruiting specialist for the Kansas Department of Commerce, spoke of today's workforce needs and offered career advice for the recent graduates.

"Your technical training is highly needed in today's workforce," said LaShell, a graduate of NCKTC. "We have many employers in our region who are in dire need of technical training for their employees ... They need your expertise and skills."

Following the ceremony, Sunley, and several of his classmates, were headed home for celebrations with family and friends. After switching his tassel, he rushed to meet up with his family -- his wife, Kerri, and two sons, Brady, 14, and Noah, 6.

Sunley said he believes his time at NCKTC has served him well, and he encourages other traditional and non-traditional students to consider their options.

"Anybody that's wanting to go to school or who's been out for awhile, definitely come check out the technical school," he said. "It's worthwhile."