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Check out this video from Commencement 2008.

Phil Robinson, top sound operator for country-music superstar Kenny Chesney, has not forgotten his Ozarks Technical Community College roots. Robinson, originally from Clever, returned to the College Monday to pick up his diploma that he failed to get when he graduated in 1994 with an Associate of Applied Science in Electronic Media Production, one of the most popular programs now offered at the College.

“Everything I know I learned at OTC,” said Robinson, who now lives in Orlando, Fla., and who has worked for Chesney for more than eight years.

The 35-year-old Robinson, who was awarded one of the first scholarships ever given by the College, received an empty diploma holder without the official document in it in the College’s graduation ceremony.

He left right after the service to go to his job in Branson where he worked for a few years as a sound engineer for a variety of shows including Roy Clark, Jim Stafford and Doug Gabriel.

From Branson, Robinson moved to Florida to work for Universal Studios in setting up sound for nightclubs there and then to work with him and Chesney.

Robinson must continually monitor the sound and watch Chesney for signals to increase or decrease specific instruments or voices as the star requests changes.

The work can be grueling but Robinson enjoys every minute of it.

Traveling with up to 18 buses and 12 semi-tractor trailers, Robinson and the others in the crew start setting up for a show in the morning, doing sound checks about 3:45 p.m. and tearing down after the concert. They finish about 3 a.m.

The equipment is loaded and the crew hits the road, driving 200-400 miles to the next venue. The tour has played all over the U.S. and a few times in Canada and Mexico.

Robinson also travels with Chesney when he appears on television programs like “Ellen,” “The Today Show” and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” to assist with sound issues.

The College has changed quite a bit since Robinson graduated nearly 15 years ago. The Information Commons buildings were not built yet when he attended.

“This place is huge. It has really grown,” said Robinson, who comes home for Christmas every year to be with his parents and brother, who still live in Clever.