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MCCC to Host Commencement Ceremonies
Thursday, May 20, 5:30 p.m.
Central Quadrangle, West Windsor Campus
1,066 graduates this year
The keynote speaker will be Dr. George Boggs, president and CEO of the
American Association of Community Colleges, the primary advocacy
organization for the nation's 1,100 community colleges.
The student speaker will be David Hoyt, recipient of a prestigious
Jack Kent Cooke scholarship of $30,000 per year for up to three
years to continue his education.
This year's Grand Marshall will be Professor of Fine Art and Art History Mel Leipzig.
During the ceremony one of Mercer's faculty members will receive
the annual MCCC Distinguished Teaching Award. Each year the name
of the awardee is kept secret.
The ceremonies will be broadcast live on MCCC Cable TV Channels 20 and 26.
Honors Convocation
Thursday, May 20, 3 p.m., Kelsey Theatre
Some Noteworthy MCCC Graduates:
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David Hoyt, Liberal Arts
David C. Hoyt will represent MCCC students as the Student
Speaker. Hoyt is the recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship,
created by the billionaire philanthropist. Given to only 40
community college students across the country, the honor includes
a $30,000 per year scholarship for up to three years.
Hoyt, who maintains a 4.0 GPA, is president of the MCCC chapter
of Phi Theta Kappa international honor society, and president
of the college's international language honor society. He
is past editor of the student newspaper, The College Voice,
for which he earned an award from the N.J. Collegiate Press
Association. He served as co-producer/technical director of
MCN Live, the student weekly cable television news show. With
the goal of being an international diplomat or businessman,
Hoyt's studies at Mercer have included Chinese, Arabic and
Japanese. He plans to pursue a dual major in international
relations and economics, with a minor in Asian studies, and
is now deciding where he will be continuing his education.
More
here.
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Tajh
Laster, Exercise Science
As he prepares for graduation, Exercise
Science major Tajh Laster says, "I am bubbling inside
to get to the next phase of my life. I feel I am ready."
A
graduate of Trenton Central High School, Laster says his mother
was a guiding force, as was Mercer's PASS program (Programs
for Academic Services and Success). He notes that staff members
were always available to help, but just as important was the
cohesiveness and family atmosphere. "You could have a
real conversation with them. They gave us support and encouragement,"
he says.
Laster
is using his leadership skills at the Boys and Girls Club
in Trenton, where he spent time during the spring semester.
Working with youngsters from kindergarten through high school,
he organized games, led a Fitness Camp, and took the children
on trips. He says he will continue to work there over the
summer.
Laster plans to transfer to William Paterson University in the fall to study kinesiology and earn his teaching certification in Physical Education. |
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Mother/Daughter
Lisa DeMilio, Education,
and Bianca Tagariello, International Business
Mother/daughter Lisa DeMilio and Bianca
Tagariello will graduate together. Adult student Lisa DeMilio,
an Education major, has made the most of her Mercer experience,
including serving as a mother figure to the "youngsters"
in her classes. DeMilio is, in fact, the mother of a student
in several of her classes. She is attending Mercer at the
same time as her daughter, Bianca Tagariello, an International
Business major.
Both
are graduating in May and both will continue at Rider University.
DeMilio is the current president of the Kappa Delta Pi International
Education Honor Society and says that Mercer's Education program
has been great for her. Daughter Bianca says she has enjoyed
having her mom as a classmate. Clearly
Mercer is a family affair, as DeMilio's son just began his
college education at Mercer this spring.
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Ashley
Rose Stumbaugh, Business
Student leader Ashley Rose Stumbaugh served as vice president
of the Student Government Association and was selected by her
peers for the 2010 Student of the Year and Community Service
Awards. A New Jersey STARS student and a scholar in the Honors
Program, she is a three-star member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor
Society and will receive the Fred Anker Memorial Scholarship
in Business at the May 20 Honors Convocation. She served as
director, producer and news anchor with the student television
news show, MCN Live.
Stumbaugh took a leading role in raising charitable funds for
the March of Dimes, chaired a week-long fundraising effort for
the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen and participated in a lunch-making
day for them. She gave many hours to a craft night for Homefront
children.
She has been accepted to American University in Washington with
a $10,000 annual scholarship, and will study business administration
with concentrations in economics and broadcast communication.
Her advice to new students is, "Definitely get involved.
It makes your experience a lot fuller and there is so much to
learn outside the classroom." |
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