Natalie Harmata named MCC student commencement speaker

Natalie Harmata experienced a comforting clarity while in a hospital bed in McCook – far from the Sydney, Australia skyscrapers that surrounded her most of her life. That clarity and her journey will lead her to the podium as this year’s student commencement speaker at McCook Community College.

Commencement ceremonies will be May 9 at 10 a.m. at the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center. Also the college will recognize McCook College alum and long-time MCC advocate Ken Foster with the year’s Presidential Award.

For Harmata, her journey to the podium began when MCC Coach Brandon Pritchett drove Harmata on a tour around town when she arrived in August of 2022.

It started when MCC Coach Brandon Pritchett drove Harmata on a tour around town when she arrived in August of 2022.

“I remember thinking what a quick drive it was,” she said. “My biggest shock was how small McCook was. At home it takes forever to drive anywhere, traffic is a major thing.”

In Brooks Hall, she learned new daily routines and in classrooms adapted to a new culture. Smaller class sizes made her less conscious and easier to ask questions. On the court she started in 21 games, averaging 7.1 points, 3.7 rebounds. Academically she made the fall Dean’s List in 2022 and in the spring of 2023. She was also named to the third-team NJCAA All-Academic team.

Four games into her sophomore season she tore her ACL.

Her parents came from Australia for her surgery. Her support and comfort extended to teammates, coaches, classmates, instructors, MCC staff and new friends like the families of Tandi Porter and Jamie Rundell.

“I just remember Coach Pritchett saying ‘everything will be okay,’” she said. “And he was right.”

Despite a difficult fall semester, she made the President’s List in the fall and spring and in the summer was selected NJCCAA second-team All-Academic team.

After completing her associate of arts degree, she used her third year to get an associate of science degree. In the fall of 2024, an exceptional learning class landed her at McCook Elementary School, where she helped teachers for an hour daily and taught students.

At MCC’s home-opener Nov. 5 those teachers and students cheered as she scored nine points in a 57-56 win over North Platte.

She made the fall Dean’s List, started 25 games and averaged 8.9 points and 3.7 rebounds. The team went 8-2, second place in the region as the team finished 19-12.

She hopes all her experiences in McCook will eventually help lead her home where she wants to work with children, but she’s thankful that one more year in McCook may give her an opportunity to play two more years of college basketball in America.

As her time comes to a close, she’s grateful for the chance to remind her fellow graduates to appreciate everything their college experience has given them.