Schools

MCC Graduates Its Largest Class Ever

786 students collected 936 degrees Thursday as part of the school's 47th annual Commencement.

More than 750 Manchester Community College students had their day in the sun Thursday, as the school held its 47th annual Commencement, celebrating the festivities with its largest graduating class yet.

It was a hot, humid, and at times windy late-afternoon ceremony as 786 students from across the state collected 936 degrees at Connecticut’s largest community college (65 students received multiple degrees and certificates). Graduates were awarded degrees in a multitude of fields, everything from business accounting and administration to surgical technology, reflecting the breadth and depth of MCC’s program of studies.

“Although this is clearly your day, you haven’t reached this day alone,” said Manchester Community College President Gena Glickman. “I think that the graduates should be giving a round of applause to your spouses, your significant others, your family and friends who have supported you and are celebrating with you today.”

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Valedictorian Brian Edward Mulhall, from New Britain, who received an associate degree in Engineering Science, told his story to the class of 2011, which might not have been too different from many of the other graduates’ Thursday: not the most diligent student in high school, Mulhall dropped out soon after his first attempt at college, entered the work force, realized after a few years that he wanted to go back and finish his degree, and so buckled down and focused on his studies, becoming a successful community college student while still holding down a full-time job.

“These last two years have been the most rewarding experience of my entire life. Here at Manchester, I found a place that was the perfect environment for me to thrive in,” Mulhall said. “The combination of the small class size and dedicated faculty gave me the opportunity to develop the skills that would be the foundation upon which all my subsequent success was built.”

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“So much of my academic success can be attributed to the dedicated faculty, many of whom have spent countless hours helping prepare me for my future,” he continued. “Never were they too busy for someone eager to learn.  None of what I accomplished in my time here would have been possible if not for their help and I would like to take this chance to thank all of them for their support, guidance and friendship. But as we all know a story such as mine is not an uncommon one here at Manchester Community College.”

Kristi Zea, a renowned and Oscar-nominated production designer, producer and art director who has worked on a number of critically acclaimed films, including “Goodfellas,” “Silence of the Lambs,” and “As Good As It Gets,” delivered the commencement address. Zea encouraged students to embrace change in their lives and treat education as a never-ending process, which she said helped her to achieve success in an industry as tumultuous as Hollywood. 

“Some of us may need to adapt, and re-set our sights. If it is true that we change jobs on the average of eight times in a lifetime, we need to learn how to stay ahead of the game,” Zea told the graduates. “That is why you all worked so hard to get to this place today. The challenge before you – and before all of us – is how to stay equipped with the knowledge and resources that will allow us to remain adaptable, and flexible. Now is not the time to be soft, or complacent, now is the time to keep ahead of the wave.”

Pankaj N. Patel, a plant manager at Timken Aerospace Transmissions in Manchester, received an honorary degree from the college for his role in helping MCC to gain “crucial funding,” including $43,500 in the last two years which the college used to purchase software and technology equipment and to fund scholarships. Patel did not attend the ceremony.

Editor's Note: 149 students from Manchester received degrees from Manchester Community College Thursday. They are listed below (the entire list of graduates is attached as a PDF to this article). 

Michele

Maria L. Michele

Bingham

Leah Yvette Camby-Bingham

Sanchez

Maria I. Sanchez

Brown

Keisha M. Brown

Millette

Kimberly Ann Millette

Fernandez

Nicole Ray-Anna Fernandez

Fitzgerald

Maureen Fitzgerald

Smith

Daisy Mae Smith

Williams

Michelle Renee Williams

Williams

Michelle Renee Williams

Gibson

Nijill M. Gibson

Gibson

Nijill M. Gibson

Haugh

Kaitlyn Rae Haugh

Bonetti

Ashley Marie Bonetti

Douglass

Sheridan Noelle Douglass

Turner

Kara Kurtz Turner

Brown

Rebecca L. Brown

Corso

Jessalyn M. Corso

Santana

Marie Dawn Santana

White

Stephanie L. White

Bailey

Opal Trac Bailey

Gonsalves

Amanda Marie Gonsalves

Jameson

Jennifer F. Jameson

Lopez

Nery Luz Lopez

Pinney

Melanie Rose Pinney

Rodriguez

Jovana Manuet Rodriguez

Albers

Patricia Faith Albers

Fayne

Kortni Fayne

LaBonte

Darlene A.M. LaBonte

Perlwitz

Edith Clarissa Perlwitz

Ribera

Amanda Ellen Ribera

Choi

Bokyung Choi

Collins

Amanda Lee Collins

Covill

Siobhan E. Covill

Evangelista

Joanne Evangelista

Garcia

Cheyenne Bianca Garcia

Graboski

Nicole Jayne Graboski

Hood

Brittany Erin Hood

Lindberg

Rachel Ann Lindberg

Lucas

Stephanie N. Lucas

Maio

Tracy Amaral Maio

Reyes

Elsa A. Reyes

Ribeiro

Angelica P. Ribeiro

Guillette

Joan M. Guillette

Charles

Mary Theresa Charles

Cheng

Jie Cheng

Orahood

Nicole Annelise Orahood

Rozek

Anna Rozek

Bower

Holli B. Bower

Combs

Millicent Helen Combs

Chapman

Jennifer L. Chapman

Charway

Barbara Juliet Charway

Charway

Barbara Juliet Charway

Charway

Barbara Juliet Charway

Delano

Laurene M. Delano

Delaware

Lucinda Delaware

Diana

Hillary Anh Diana

Dunaway

Natasha Denise Dunaway

Hall

Lizabeth M. Hall

Hall

Lizabeth M. Hall

Maggiore

Chiara Martina Maggiore

Milhomens

Susanne B. Milhomens

Richardson

Christine J. Richardson

Slowick

Kristy Lynn Slowick

Tambling

Callie Tessa Tambling

Thompson

Elizabeth Kim Thompson

White

Marla Lynn White

Bass

Kathy Regina Bass

Calve

Cheryl Anne Calve

Griffin

Sandra Ivelisse Griffin

Whitehead

Janelle Marie Whitehead

Aafrin

Amama Aafrin

Palaparambil

Nethra Nitin Palaparambil

Williams

Leona Theresa Williams

Williams

Leona Theresa Williams

Ukpeh

Itoro O. Ukpeh

Zarcone

Claudia Cristine Zarcone

Johnson

Cedric A. Johnson

Githinji

Stephen Mwangi Githinji

Church

Christopher Charles Church

Roy Jr.

Robert Norman Roy, Jr.

Schaefer

Kristopher A. Schaefer

Huff

John Wesley Huff, Jr.

Jackson

Jonathan Patrick Jackson

Nyarko

Kofi Nyarko

Yaglin

Alexandr A. Yaglin

Yaglin

Alexandr A. Yaglin

Spencer

Joseph Marcus Spencer

Guice

Dwayne Guice

Jolly

Patrick R. Jolly

LeRoux

Kevin M. LeRoux

LeRoux

Kevin M. LeRoux

LeRoux

Kevin Michael LeRoux

Soto

Elis Soto, Jr.

Wood Jr.

Joseph L. Wood, Jr.

Allison

Zachary Joseph Allison

Bawwab

Hassan M. Bawwab

Chaudhry

Kashif S. Chaudhry

Duenas

Ronald C. Duenas

Gardner

Ian Robert Wayne Gardner

Howes

Bryan Hopkins Howes

McCartney

Benjamin Scott McCartney

Muth

Marcel Muth

Okwuazi

Joseph Emeka Okwuazi

Price

Daryn M. Price

Sanden

Merrill Bennett Sanden

Soo Hoo

Daniel  Wei-luen SooHoo

D'Amico

John Eric D'Amico

Guilmette

Ryan Patrick Guilmette

Torres

Christopher John Torres

Bici

Elvis Bici

Duran

Orlando E. Duran

Figueroa

Anthony Figueroa

Figueroa

Anthony Figueroa

Gibbs

Christopher M. Gibbs

Hegenauer

John Edward Hegenauer

Hicks

Edward James Hicks

Khan

Rafey M. Khan

Mazurkiewicz

Andrew John Mazurkiewicz

Moreau

Joseph Anthony Moreau

Panecki

Matthew Anthony Panecki

Panecki

Matthew Anthony Panecki

Proano

Christian Andres Proano

Rossignol

Kenneth Glenn Rossignol

Sepulveda

Cesar Antonio Sepulveda

Stearns

Michael Jameson Stearns

Wrobel

Caleb Johnson Wrobel

Allwood

Thomas J. Allwood

Brosnan

Michael William Brosnan

Fecteau

Christian David Fecteau

Javed

Zeshan Javed

Lapenta

Anthony Joseph Lapenta

Rodriguez Ramos

Carlos Fabian Rodriguez Ramos

Bakowski

Jeffrey Joseph Bakowski

Cudjoe

Rashad Jody Cudjoe

Fennimore

Nicholas C. Fennimore

Fennimore

Nicholas C. Fennimore

Fennimore

Nicholas C. Fennimore

Harris

Brendan D. Harris

McKay

Stephen Joseph McKay

Philbrick

Nathan C. Philbrick

Slowick

Mitchell Matthew Slowick

Crawford

Nicholas James Crawford

Overstreet

Corey Alexander Overstreet

Wrubel

Christopher M. Wrubel

Reuthe

William Earl Reuthe

Swan

Brian Ford Swan

Leary

Michael Steven Leary


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