Montgomery College Commencement 2010

Montgomery College graduated its largest class of students ever in a ceremony held May 21, 2010 in Rockville, Maryland. Of the more than 2,500 students who completed graduation requirements for associates degrees, apprenticeships or certificates, more than 750 students participated in the morning ceremony.
The Montgomery College class of 2010 is diverse in age and experience. Most graduates attended Montgomery County Public Schools, but others attended high schools abroad or as far away as California. Some took alternative paths to college through homeschooling or by earning their General Equivalency Diplomas (GED). The oldest graduates were born during Harry Trumans presidency. The youngest graduate will soon turn 18 years old. While many students take two years to complete their associates degree, one of this years graduates has taken 27 years to earn her degree.
One of the memorable moments of this years ceremony was the posthumous awarding of an associate of arts degree to Lorrayne Jackson, who passed away a few weeks ago. Jacksons daughter, Damia Elaine Woodson, accepted the degree on behalf of her mother as the College community honored Jacksons memory with a standing ovation.
During the commencement ceremony, Dr. Hercules Pinkney, interim president, urged graduates to complete two final homework assignments before leaving Montgomery College.
First, take great pride in your Montgomery College education and feel confident that you are well prepared for the next stage of your journey, said Dr. Pinkney. Second, when you succeed, give something back and magnify the value of your education a thousand times over."
Dr. Charlene Nunley, the former president of Montgomery College, delivered the commencement address and reminded graduates to be proud of their community college education.
The mission of community colleges is to take everyone and help them soar, said Dr. Nunley. Community colleges train students for good jobs, or for transfer to a four-year college, or an exciting new career. In an economy that requires a skilled workforce, community colleges have never been more important.
Currently, Dr. Nunley is a professor and program director of the University of Maryland University Colleges doctor of management program in community college policy and administration.

The commencement ceremony also featured speeches by four graduating students who were selected as Board of Trustees Scholars, representing each of the Colleges three campuses and Workforce Development and Continuing Education. This years scholars were:

David N. Coleman Workforce Development and Continuing Education
A Rockville resident, Coleman graduated from the Air Conditioning Contractors of America Chapter, National Capital Chapters four-year apprenticeship program at Montgomery College. He is employed by Gary P. Frank, Inc.

Gabrielle Koscielski Germantown Campus
Born and raised in Germany, Gabrielle Koscielski, a business administration major and a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, was encouraged by her daughters to earn her college degree at Montgomery College.

Marianne M. Mullan Rockville Campus
Marianne Mullan was selected as one of the top community college students and named to the All-USA Community College Academic First Team. Mullan will transfer to Franciscan University of Steubenville and major in mental health and human services.

Cody S. Alexander Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus
Cody Alexander, a radiologic technology and pre-nursing major, recently enrolled in the nursing bachelors degree program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. He works full time at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital.

During commencement, Montgomery College honored Maryland Delegate Henry Hank Heller, Dr. George Thomas, Sr., Carol Trawick and commencement speaker Dr. Charlene Nunley with honorary degrees.

Dr. Henry B. Hank Heller is a 1962 graduate of Montgomery College and a retiring member of the Maryland House of Delegates. Dr. George Thomas Sr. is president and chairman of The George B. Thomas Sr. Learning Academy, Inc. (GBTLA), a nonprofit community-based tutoring and mentoring program that he founded in 1986. Carol Trawick and her husband, Jim, established the Jim and Carol Trawick Foundation, which assists local health, human services and arts nonprofit organizations.

For more information about commencement, including photographs and Dr. Nunleys commencement address, visit: www.montgomerycollege.edu/commencement.




Montgomery College is a public, open admissions community college with campuses in Germantown, Rockville, and Takoma Park/Silver Spring, plus workforce development/continuing education centers and off-site programs throughout Montgomery County, Md. The College serves nearly 60,000 students a year, through both credit and noncredit programs, in more than 130 areas of study.

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