Malia Sweet will speak during the 3 p.m. ceremony at Great Southern Bank Arena on May 14, 2026
Ozarks Tech 2026 Commencement Student Speaker Malia Sweet is passionate about being a positive influence on others, especially those who feel they can’t achieve their dreams.
“Ozarks Tech has made me into a leader,” she said. “I want to inspire others who’ve been told they can’t do something.”
As a youth, Sweet faced personal challenges that led some to doubt whether college would be part of her future. Instead, she used that doubt as motivation to not only exceed expectations, but to excel.
In her commencement address, she will share a message about moving forward without fear and recognizing that the true measure of a life is found in the impact we have on others.
Sweet is graduating with an Associate of Applied Science in Graphic Design Technology and previously earned an Associate of Arts in English in 2022. A gifted writer, she led the Writers’ Coalition for two years. The club’s sponsor, Martha Crise, said of Sweet, “When Malia speaks, others listen.”
As a published author, Sweet has contributed to multiple campus publications, including Go Anywhere Literary Magazine, The Eagle and PTK Pinnacle, and worked as a tutor in the Carol Jones Writing Center.
Sweet demonstrated leadership as a member of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), serving as president of the Ozarks Tech chapter. She also competed on the Esports team for several semesters. Outside of the classroom, Sweet is a past president of Twin Rivers 4-H and has volunteered with Ozarks Food Harvest and her church.
After graduation, Sweet plans to pursue creative writing and will continue on to Lindenwood University to study social marketing, with the goal of helping grow the family business. She credits her parents, Dustin and April Sweet, and her siblings Branson and Brylyn Sweet, for their steady support throughout her educational journey.
Photo courtesy staff photographer Kristina Bridges