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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